Project description:Deregulated expression of cytokine receptor gene, CRLF2, is involved in lymphoid transformation in B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia We report two novel, cryptic chromosomal abnormalities in precursor B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL): a translocation, either t(X;14)(p22;q32) or t(Y;14)(p11;q32), in 33 patients and an interstitial deletion, either del(X)(p22.33p22.33) or del(Y)(p11.32p11.32), in 64 patients, involving the pseudoautosomal region (PAR1) of the sex chromosomes. The incidence of these abnormalities was 5% in childhood ALL (0.8% with the translocation, 4.2% with the deletion). Patients with the translocation were older (median age 16 years), whilst the patients with the deletion were younger (median age 4 years). The two abnormalities result in deregulated expression of the cytokine receptor, cytokine receptor-like factor 2, CRLF2 (also known as thymic stromal-derived lymphopoietin receptor, TSLPR). Over-expression of CRLF2 was associated with activation of the JAK-STAT pathway in cell lines and transduced primary B-cell progenitors, sustaining their proliferation and indicating a causal role of CRLF2 over-expression in lymphoid transformation. In Down Syndrome (DS) ALL and two non DS BCP-ALL cell lines, CRLF2 deregulation was associated with mutations of the JAK2 pseudokinase domain suggesting oncogenic cooperation, as well as highlighting a link between non DS ALL and JAK2 mutations. Keyword(s): Global copy number analysis using Agilent oligonucleotide arrays DNA copy number analysis of 16 acute lymphoblastic leukaemia samples (13 diagnostic, 1 diagnostic and relapse pair and 2 cell-lines) was performed using Agilent 244K and 105K custom microarrays. These samples were hybridised against gender matched reference DNA.
Project description:Deregulated expression of cytokine receptor gene, CRLF2, is involved in lymphoid transformation in B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia We report two novel, cryptic chromosomal abnormalities in precursor B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL): a translocation, either t(X;14)(p22;q32) or t(Y;14)(p11;q32), in 33 patients and an interstitial deletion, either del(X)(p22.33p22.33) or del(Y)(p11.32p11.32), in 64 patients, involving the pseudoautosomal region (PAR1) of the sex chromosomes. The incidence of these abnormalities was 5% in childhood ALL (0.8% with the translocation, 4.2% with the deletion). Patients with the translocation were older (median age 16 years), whilst the patients with the deletion were younger (median age 4 years). The two abnormalities result in deregulated expression of the cytokine receptor, cytokine receptor-like factor 2, CRLF2 (also known as thymic stromal-derived lymphopoietin receptor, TSLPR). Over-expression of CRLF2 was associated with activation of the JAK-STAT pathway in cell lines and transduced primary B-cell progenitors, sustaining their proliferation and indicating a causal role of CRLF2 over-expression in lymphoid transformation. In Down Syndrome (DS) ALL and two non DS BCP-ALL cell lines, CRLF2 deregulation was associated with mutations of the JAK2 pseudokinase domain suggesting oncogenic cooperation, as well as highlighting a link between non DS ALL and JAK2 mutations. Keyword(s): Global copy number analysis using Agilent oligonucleotide arrays
Project description:Deregulated expression of the type I cytokine receptor, CRLF2 (CRLF2-d), is observed in 5-15% of B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (BCP-ALL), is associated with activation of the JAK/STAT pathway and has an inferior outcome compared to those with good risk cytogenetics. We aimed to determine the clinical and genetic landscape of CRLF2-d ALL using genomic approaches including karyotyping, fluorescence in situ hybridisation, whole genome and whole exome sequencing. The clinical and demographic features of CRLF2-d patients were characteristic of BCP-ALL. Patients with IGH-CRLF2 were older than those with P2RY8-CRLF2 (4yrs v 14yrs, p<0.001), while the incidence of CRLF2-d among Down syndrome patients was high (31%). CRLF2-d co-occurred with established primary chromosomal rearrangements but the majority (72%) had B-other ALL. The copy number alteration (CNA) profile was similar to B-other ALL, although CRLF2-d patients harboured higher frequencies of IKZF1 (43% v 23%) and BTG1 deletions (15% v 2%). There were differences in the CNA profile between IGH-CRLF2 and P2RY8-CRLF2 patients: deletions of IKZF1 (71% v 33% p<0.001), BTG1 (31% v 9%, p=0.004) and ADD3 (46% v 13%, p=0.008). A novel gene fusion, USP9X-DDX3X was discovered in 18% of CRLF2-d ALL. Pathway analysis of the mutational profile revealed novel involvement of the focal adhesion pathway. In conclusion, CRLF2-d defines a discrete subtype of B-other ALL, characterised by a distinctive profile of cooperating abnormalities, which drive leukaemogenesis in conjunction with CRLF2-d. Although the functional relevance of many of these abnormalities are unknown, they likely activate alternative pathways, which may represent novel therapeutic targets. Affymetrix SNP arrays were performed according to the manufacturer's directions on DNA extracted from cryopreserved diagnostic bone marrow or remission bone marrow.
Project description:We studied the in vitro and in vivo efficacy of the HDAC inhibitor Givinostat/ITF2357 in BCP-ALL with CRLF2 rearrangements. We used BCP-ALL CRLF2- rearranged MHH-CALL4 and MUTZ5 cell lines as well as blasts from CRLF2 rearranged BCP-ALL patients and patients’ derived xenograft samples. We conclude that Givinostat may represent a novel and effective tool, in combination with current chemotherapy, to treat this subsets of ALL with poor prognosis and chemotherapy-related toxicity.
Project description:Chromosomal aneuploidy and translocations are hallmarks of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), but many patients lack a recurring chromosomal alteration. Here we report a recurring interstitial deletion of the pseudoautosomal region 1 of chromosomes X and Y in B-progenitor ALL that results in the expression of a novel fusion that juxtaposes the first non-coding exon of P2RY8 to the coding region of the CRLF2 (cytokine receptor like factor 2, or thymic stromal lymphopoietin receptor) gene. The P2RY8-CRLF2 fusion was identified in 7% of B-ALL cases, and was very common in ALL associated with Down syndrome (55% of cases) and was associated with the presence of JAK mutations. The P2RY8-CRLF2 fusion results in increased expression of CRLF2, a lymphoid signaling molecule that forms a heterodimeric complex with interleukin receptor 7 alpha. These findings identify a novel recurring chromosomal alteration in B-ALL, and suggest that perturbed CRLF2-mediated signaling is a key event in leukemogenesis in these cases. Profiling of tumor acquired DNA copy number alterations in 2 patients with Down syndrome associated B-progenitor acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Matched tumor and normal DNA was used for each array hybridization in each case.
Project description:Chromosomal aneuploidy and translocations are hallmarks of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), but many patients lack a recurring chromosomal alteration. Here we report a recurring interstitial deletion of the pseudoautosomal region 1 of chromosomes X and Y in B-progenitor ALL that results in the expression of a novel fusion that juxtaposes the first non-coding exon of P2RY8 to the coding region of the CRLF2 (cytokine receptor like factor 2, or thymic stromal lymphopoietin receptor) gene. The P2RY8-CRLF2 fusion was identified in 7% of B-ALL cases, and was very common in ALL associated with Down syndrome (55% of cases) and was associated with the presence of JAK mutations. The P2RY8-CRLF2 fusion results in increased expression of CRLF2, a lymphoid signaling molecule that forms a heterodimeric complex with interleukin receptor 7 alpha. These findings identify a novel recurring chromosomal alteration in B-ALL, and suggest that perturbed CRLF2-mediated signaling is a key event in leukemogenesis in these cases.
Project description:CRLF2 rearranged Ph-like ALL cells are driven by oncogenic cytokine receptor signaling mediated by CRLF2 and JAK2. MHH-cALL4 cells were treated with ruxolotinib (JAK2 inhibitor) to provide insight into mechanisms of drug resistance.
Project description:Childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is preceded by a clinically silent pre-leukemia. Experimental models that authentically re-capitulate disease initiation and progression in human cells are lacking. Herein, we explore these issues in the most common subtype of the poor-prognosis Philadelphia-like (Ph-like) B-cell precursor (BCP) ALL, characterized by aberrant expression of cytokine receptor-like factor-2 (CRLF2) which dimerizes with Interleukin-7 receptor alpha (IL7RA). Whether CRLF2/IL7RA signalling has a role in initiation of human BCP-ALL is unknown.
To investigate this, we expressed CRLF2 and/or mutationally activated IL7RA in cord-blood CD34+ hematopoietic progenitors and transplanted them into NOD/LtSz-scid IL2Rγnull mice. Detailed immunphenotypic and molecular analyses revealed that activation of the CRLF2/IL7RA pathway induces B-cell differentiation arrest coupled with enhanced self-renewal in-vivo, consistent with a pre-leukemic state.
Progression from pre-leukemia to leukemia in children is rare and associated with an intervening period of several years. Nevertheless, we observed the development of BCP-ALL after a secondary transplant of pre-leukemic cells transduced with mutationally-activated IL7RA. Genomic analysis of the leukemia revealed the loss of CDKN2A/B and IKZF1, typically observed in Ph-like ALL. Single cell gene expression analysis of pre-leukemic and leukemic cells further suggests that the leukemia arose from a subpopulation of CD19+CD10highCD34+ pre-leukemic cells.
The development of authentic BCP-ALL from CRLF2/IL7RA transduced cells supports the hypothesis that aberrant activation of the CRLF2/IL7RA pathway in human B-cell lineage progenitors creates pre-leukemic state which is vulnerable to transformation. This is the first model of a de-novo Ph-like BCP-ALL development from normal human hematopoietic progenitors in vivo.
Project description:B-1 and B-2 lymphocytes are derived from distinct developmental pathways, and represent layered arms of the innate and adaptive immune systems, respectively. In contrast to the majority of murine B- cell malignancies, which stain positive with the B220 antibody, we discovered a novel form of B-cell leukemia in NUP98-PHF23 (NP23) transgenic mice. The immunophenotype (Lin- B220 - CD19+ AA4.1+) was identical to B-1 progenitor cells, and VH gene usage was skewed toward 3’ V regions, similar to murine fetal liver B-cells. We performed RNA sequencing and determined that the expression profile of these leukemias was most similar to fetal liver pro B fraction BC, a known source of B-1 B cells, further supporting a B-1 progenitor origin of these leukemias. The NP23 B-1 progenitor ALLs acquired spontaneous mutations in both Bcor and Jak pathway (Jak1/2/3 and Stat5a) genes, supporting a hypothesis that mutations in three critical pathways (stem cell self-renewal, B-cell differentiation, and cytokine signaling) collaborate to induce B-cell precursor (BCP) ALL. Finally, the Tslp cytokine is required for murine B- 1 development, and chromosomal rearrangements resulting in overexpression of the TSLP receptor (CRLF2) are present in some high risk BCP ALL patients (referred to as CRLF2r ALL). Gene expression profiles of NP23 pro-B1 ALL were more similar to CRLF2r ALL than non-CRLF2r ALL, and analysis of VH gene usage from CRLF2r ALL patients demonstrated preferential usage of VH regions used by human B-1 B-cells, leading to the suggestion that this subset of BCP ALL patients have a malignancy of B-1, rather than B-2 B-cell origin.