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The p210-BCR-ABL fusion protein is a constitutively active tyrosine kinase that is necessary and sufficient for the development of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). ABL-kinase inhibitors such as imatinib mesylate (Gleevec, STI571) potently block BCR-ABL activation, but the continued presence of leukemic stem cells and the emergence of imatinib-resistant BCR-ABL mutants suggest that ABL kinase inhibitors alone cannot completely eradicate disease. Rac GTPases have been implicated in BCR-ABL-mediated proliferation in cell lines and regulate many of the same signaling pathways as BCR-ABL, suggesting that these proteins could be additional therapeutic targets in CML. We have found that Rac1, Rac2, and, to a lesser extent, Rac3 were hyperactivated in CD34+ cells purified from the peripheral blood of two CML patients. To better study the role of Rac in BCR-ABL disease development, murine hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) genetically deficient in Rac1 and/or Rac2 were transduced with a retroviral vector expressing p210-BCR-ABL. Wild type (WT) and Rac1−/− mice experienced similar disease progression [median survival 23 ± 6 days (n=30) and 22 ± 4 days (n=8), respectively], Rac2−/− mice exhibited significantly attenuated development of BCR-ABL-mediated MPD [median survival 43 ± 27 days (n=18); p

Several RNA binding proteins (RBPs) have been implicated in the progression of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) from the indolent chronic phase to the aggressively fatal blast crisis. In the latter phase, expression and function of specific RBPs are altered at transcriptional or post-translational levels by the increased constitutive kinase activity of the BCR/ABL oncoprotein, resulting in enhanced resistance to apoptotic stimuli, growth advantage and differentiation arrest of CD34+ CML blast crisis (CML-BC) progenitors. In the current study, we identified by RIP (RNA immunoprecipitation)-mediated microarray analysis that mRNA encoding the E2F3 transcription factor associates to the BCR/ABL-regulated RBP hnRNP A1. Moreover, RNA electrophoretic mobility shift and UV-crosslinking assays revealed that hnRNP A1 interacts with E2F3 mRNA through a binding site located in the 3’UTR of both human and mouse E2F3 mRNA. Accordingly, E2F3 protein levels were upregulated in BCR/ABL-transformed myeloid precursor cell lines compared to parental cells in a BCR/ABL-kinase- and hnRNP A1 shuttling-dependent manner. In fact, treatment of BCR/ABL-expressing myeloid precursors with the kinase inhibitor Imatinib (2mM, 24 hr) or introduction of a dominant-negative shuttling-deficient hnRNP A1 protein (NLS-A1) markedly reduced E2F3 protein and mRNA levels. Similarly, upregulation of BCR/ABL expression/activity in the doxycycline inducible TonB2.10 cell line resulted in increased E2F3 protein expression. BCR/ABL kinase-dependent induction of E2F3 protein levels was also detected in CML-BCCD34+ compared to CML-CPCD34+ progenitors from paired patient samples and to normal CD34+ bone marrow samples. Importantly, the in vitro clonogenic potential of primary mouse BCR/ABL+ lineage negative (Lin−) progenitors was markedly impaired in BCR/ABL+ E2F3−/− compared to BCR/ABL-transduced E2F3+/+ myeloid progenitors and upon shRNA-mediated downregulation of E2F3 expression (90% inhibition, P80% reduction in tumor burden, P

Altered microRNA (miR) expression contributes to aberrant post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression in different type of cancers; however, their role in the pathogenesis and progression of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) from chronic phase (CML-CP) to blast crisis (CML-BC) is still largely unknown. Microarray analysis of miR expression reveals that a discrete number of miRs are significantly upregulated (∼ 6.7% of the total 505 miRs present on the chip; 34 miRs) or downregulated (∼2.8% of the miRs present on the chip; 14 miRs) in an imatinib-sensitive manner in CML-BCCD34+ compared to CML-CPCD34+ progenitors and in BCR/ABL-expressing hematopoietic cell lines compared to untransformed parental cells. Among them, we focused our attention on miR-223, miR-15a/16-1 and miR-328, a microRNA with no currently known function, because of their importance in myelopoiesis, potential role as tumor suppressors and sequence homology with the 5’UTR of CEBPA mRNA, respectively. In 32D-BCR/ABL and K562 cells, Northern blot and TaqMan RT-PCR analyses revealed that expression of miR-223, miR-328, miR-15a and miR-16-1 was markedly suppressed (50–75% inhibition) by p210-BCR/ABL kinase activity and that imatinib treatment (1mM; 24h) restored the expression of these miRs to levels similar to those detected in non-transformed 32Dcl3 cells. Interestingly, sequence analysis of both miR-223 and miR-328 revealed homology with the hnRNP E2-binding site contained in the CEBPA uORF/spacer mRNA, a known target of the negative regulator of myeloid differentiation hnRNP E2. Accordingly, REMSA and UV-crosslinking experiments showed that synthetic miR-223 and to a greater extent miR-328 bind efficiently to recombinant hnRNP E2 protein and compete for its binding to an oligoribonucleotide containing the CEBPA uORF/spacer region, which is required for hnRNP E2-mediated translational inhibition of CEBPA in CML-BCCD34+ progenitors. Furthermore, both miR-223 and miR-328 bind endogenous hnRNP E2 from lysates of BCR/ABL-expressing but not parental cells, and from lysates of parental 32Dcl3 myeloid precursors ectopically expressing a Flag-tagged hnRNP E2 protein, suggesting that miR-223 and miR-328 may act as decoy molecules that interfere with the translation-inhibitory activity of hnRNP E2. Indeed, ectopic expression of miR-223 restored G-CSF-driven granulocytic maturation of differentiation-arrested 32D-BCR/ABL cells and restored C/EBPα expression, whereas it did not have any effect on cytokine-independent growth and clonogenic potential. Consistent with its ability to bind hnRNP E2, miR-328 also rescued C/EBPα expression and differentiation of cytokine-independent BCR/ABL-expressing myeloid precursor 32Dcl3 cells. By contrast, BCR/ABL-dependent colony formation was markedly reduced by overexpression of miR-15a and miR-16-1 (65–75% inhibition, P

Blast crisis chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML-BC) and Philadelphia chromosome positive (Ph1) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) are two fatal BCR/ABL-driven leukemias against which the current therapy with Abl kinase inhibitors fails to induce a long-term response, as the majority of patients are either refractory or relapse after a few months of treatment. We recently reported that functional loss of the PP2A tumor suppressor occurs during CML disease progression and that restoration of PP2A activity impairs in vitro and in vivo BCR/ABL leukemogenesis. Here we assessed the therapeutic potential of the PP2A activator FTY720 in CML-BC and Ph1 ALL patient cells and in in vitro and in vivo models of these BCR/ABL+ leukemias. FTY720 (500 nM-2.5 mM) induces caspase-dependent apoptosis (70–98% annexin V+) and impairs the clonogenic potential (70–95% inhibition) of imatinib/dasatinib-sensitive and -resistant (T315I) p210 and p190 BCR/ABL-expressing myeloid and lymphoid progenitor cell lines (Ph1 K562, 32D-p210BCR/ABL, 32D-p210(T315I)BCR/ABL and BaF3-p190BCR/ABL), respectively, and of primary bone marrow CML-BCCD34+ (n=11) and Ph1 ALLCD34+/CD19+ (n=12) patients cells. Interestingly the cytokine (IL-3 or IL-7)-dependent growth and differentiation of normal CD34+ myeloid and CD34+/CD19+ lymphoid progenitors (n=8) is not affected by FTY720 treatment. Furthermore, pharmacologic doses of FTY720 markedly suppress leukemogenesis in SCID mice (n=13 per group) transplanted with myeloid and lymphoid progenitor cells transformed with p210BCR/ABL and p190BCR/ABL, respectively. In fact, the median survival has not yet been reached in FTY720-treated (10 mg/kg/day) BCR/ABL+ cell-injected mice. Conversely, all of untreated 32D-p210BCR/ABL, 32D-p210BCR/ABL(T315I) and BaF3-p190BCR/ABL leukemic mice died of an overt acute leukemia-like process with a median survival of 4.3, 4.8 and 4.1 weeks, respectively (P

Monokines (i.e. IL-12, IL-18 and IL-15) induce natural killer (NK) cells to produce interferon-γ (IFN-γ), which is critical for monocyte clearance of infectious pathogens and tumor surveillance. To identify new regulators of IFN-γ production we performed oligonucleotide array analysis of unstimulated and IL-12- and IL-18-stimulated NK92 cells. Among the subset of mRNAs differentially regulated in monokine-stimulated cells, we found SET, a potent inhibitor of the protein phosphatase type 2A (PP2A). SET mRNA and/or protein levels were upregulated in IL-12/IL-18- and IL-12/IL-15-stimulated primary human NK cells. Interestingly, the SET protein is also selectively increased in the resting CD56bright NK subset, which is a potent producer of IFN-γ relative to the CD56dim NK subset. To determine whether SET positively regulates IFN-γ production by inhibiting PP2A activity, we employed RNAi and interfered with SET expression in NK92 cells. SET downregulation inhibited IFN-γ secretion by IL-12/IL-18, IL-12/IL-15- or IL-15/IL-18-stimulated NK92 cells. By contrast, ectopic SET expression increased IFN-γ production in monokine-stimulated NK92 and primary human NK cells. Because downregulation of SET augmented PP2A activity in NK92 cells, we sought to investigate whether pharmacologic activation of PP2A inhibits the ability of NK cells to produce IFN-γ. Indeed, suppression of IFN-γ expression and secretion was also observed upon treatment of NK92 and primary NK cells with 1,9-dideoxy-forskolin, a known inducer of PP2A activity. Accordingly, NK cells from mice treated with 1.9-dideoxy-forskolin produced less IFN-γ in response to in vivo monokine stimulation than did NK cells from vehicle-treated mice. Mechanistically, activation of PP2A by SET knock-down or 1,9-dideoxy-forskolin treatment leads to inhibition of ERK1/2, p65RelA and STAT5 activity in monokine-stimulated NK cells. Because these signaling molecules are important for IFN-γ production by monokine-stimulated NK cells, our results strongly suggest that monokine induction of SET expression in NK cells is essential for limiting PP2A activity that, otherwise, would negatively impact the ability of NK cells to produce and release optimal levels of IFN-γ.

Summary Although Bcr-Abl kinase inhibitors have proven effective in the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), they generally fail to eradicate Bcr-Abl + leukemia cells. To identify genes whose inhibition sensitizes Bcr-Abl + leukemias to killing by Bcr-Abl inhibitors, we performed an RNAi-based synthetic lethal screen with imatinib mesylate in CML cells. This screen identified numerous components of a Wnt/Ca 2+ /NFAT signaling pathway. Antagonism of this pathway led to impaired NFAT activity, decreased cytokine production, and enhanced sensitivity to Bcr-Abl inhibition. Furthermore, NFAT inhibition with cyclosporin A facilitated leukemia cell elimination by the Bcr-Abl inhibitor dasatinib and markedly improved survival in a mouse model of Bcr-Abl + acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Targeting this pathway in combination with Bcr-Abl inhibition could improve treatment of Bcr-Abl + leukemias.

Sulforaphane is a natural product that is constantly under biological investigation for its unique biological properties. This naturally occurring isothiocyanate (ITC) and its analogs are the main components of cruciferous vegetables, such as cauliflower, watercress, broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, widely used as chemopreventive agents. Due to their interesting biological profiles, natural ITCs have been exploited as starting point to develop new synthetic analogs. The present mini-review briefly highlights the most important biological actions of selected new synthetic ITCs focusing on their structure-activity relationships and related synthetic strategies.

A tight control of kinase and phosphatase activity is fundamental for normal cell growth, survival and differentiation. The deregulated kinase activity of the BCR/ABL oncoprotein is responsible for the emergence and maintenance of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). By contrast, PP2A, a serine-threonine phosphatase involved in the regulation of many cellular functions, was found genetically inactivated in many types of cancer. We show here that, in BCR/ABL-transformed cells and CD34+ CML blast crisis progenitors, the phosphatase activity of the tumor suppressor PP2A is inhibited by the physiological PP2A-inhibitor SET whose expression is enhanced by BCR/ABL and increased in blast crisis CML. In imatinib-sensitive and -resistant (T315I included) BCR/ABL+ cell lines and in CD34+ CML blast crisis cells, molecular and/or pharmacological activation of PP2A leads to dephosphorylation of important regulators of proliferation and survival of CML progenitors, suppresses BCR/ABL kinase activity and promotes BCR/ABL proteasome degradation via a mechanism that requires the SHP-1 tyrosine phosphatase activity. Furthermore, PP2A activation achieved by shRNA-mediated SET knock-down or PP2Ac overexpression or treatment with the PP2A activator forskolin results in growth suppression, enhanced apoptosis, restored differentiation, impaired clonogenic potential and decreased in vivo leukemogenesis of wild type and T315I BCR/ABL-transformed myeloid cells. Thus, functional inactivation of PP2A phosphatase activity is essential for BCR/ABL leukemogenesis and, perhaps, required for transition of CML into blast crisis.

The synthesis and characterization of a new member of the pillar[5]arene family carrying a paramagnetic side-arm based on the 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine N-oxide (TEMPO) moiety has been achieved by the Huisgen-type CuAAC reaction. The possibility of exploiting the proposed pillar[5]arene as a host in paramagnetic rotaxane-like structures was tested in the presence of charged guests and confirmed by NMR spectroscopy.