Project description:Bromodomain and extra-terminal domain (BET) family inhibitors offer a new approach to treating hematological malignancies. We used precision nuclear run-on transcription sequencing (PRO-seq) to create high-resolution maps of active RNA polymerases across the genome in t(8;21) acute myeloid leukemia (AML) that are exceptionally sensitive to BET inhibitors. PRO-seq identified over 1400 genes showing impaired release of promoter-proximal paused RNA polymerases, including the stem cell factor receptor tyrosine kinase KIT that is mutated in t(8;21) AML. PRO-seq also identified an enhancer 3â to KIT. Chromosome conformation capture confirmed contacts between this enhancer and the KIT promoter and CRISPRi-mediated repression of this enhancer impaired cell growth. PRO-seq also identified microRNAs, including MIR29C and MIR29B2 that target the anti-apoptotic factor MCL1 and were repressed by BET inhibitors. MCL1 protein was up-regulated, and inhibition of BET proteins sensitized t(8:21)-containing cells to MCL1 inhibition, suggesting a potential mechanism of resistance to BET inhibitor-induced cell death. Kasumi-1 cells were treated with DMSO, 250 nM JQ1, and 125 nM MS417 for 1 and 3 hours, and PRO-seq was performed to study transcriptional changes. Kasumi-1 cells were treated with 250 nM JQ1 for 0, 15, and 30 minutes, and PRO-seq was performed. Two biological replicates were included for each time point. Primary AML patient cells were treated with DMSO and 250 nM JQ1 for 1 hour, and PRO-seq was performed to confirm trancriptional effects of BET inhibitors.
Project description:Bromodomain and extra-terminal domain (BET) family inhibitors offer a new approach to treating hematological malignancies. We used precision nuclear run-on transcription sequencing (PRO-seq) to create high-resolution maps of active RNA polymerases across the genome in t(8;21) acute myeloid leukemia (AML) that are exceptionally sensitive to BET inhibitors. PRO-seq identified over 1400 genes showing impaired release of promoter-proximal paused RNA polymerases, including the stem cell factor receptor tyrosine kinase KIT that is mutated in t(8;21) AML. PRO-seq also identified an enhancer 3’ to KIT. Chromosome conformation capture confirmed contacts between this enhancer and the KIT promoter and CRISPRi-mediated repression of this enhancer impaired cell growth. PRO-seq also identified microRNAs, including MIR29C and MIR29B2 that target the anti-apoptotic factor MCL1 and were repressed by BET inhibitors. MCL1 protein was up-regulated, and inhibition of BET proteins sensitized t(8:21)-containing cells to MCL1 inhibition, suggesting a potential mechanism of resistance to BET inhibitor-induced cell death.
Project description:Bromodomain and Extra Terminal protein (BET) inhibitors are first-in-class targeted therapies that deliver a new therapeutic paradigm by directly targeting epigenetic readers1,2. Early clinical trials have shown significant promise especially in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML)3; therefore the evaluation of resistance mechanisms, an inevitable consequence of cancer therapies, is of utmost importance to optimise the clinical efficacy of these drugs. Using primary murine stem and progenitor cells immortalised with MLL-AF9, we have used an innovative approach to generate 20 cell lines derived from single cell clones demonstrating stable resistance, in vitro and in vivo, to the prototypical BET inhibitor, I-BET. Resistance to I-BET confers cross-resistance to chemically distinct BET inhibitors such as JQ1, as well as resistance to genetic knockdown of BET proteins. Resistance is not mediated through increased drug efflux or metabolism but is demonstrated to emerge from leukaemia stem cells (LSC). Resistant clones display a leukaemic granulocyte-macrophage progenitor (L-GMP) phenotype (Lin-, Sca-, cKit+, CD34+, Fc³RII/RIII+) and functionally exhibit increased clonogenic capacity in vitro and markedly shorter leukaemia latency in vivo. Chromatin bound BRD4 is globally reduced in resistant cells, however expression of key target genes such as MYC remains unaltered, highlighting the existence of alternative mechanisms to regulate transcription. We demonstrate that resistance to BET inhibitors is in part a consequence of increased Wnt/²-catenin signaling. Negative regulation of this pathway results in differentiation of resistant cells into mature leukaemic blasts, inhibition of MYC expression and restoration of sensitivity to I-BET in vitro and in vivo. Finally, we show that the sensitivity of primary human AML cells to I-BET correlates with the baseline expression of Wnt/²-catenin target genes. Together these findings provide novel insights into the biology of AML, highlight the potential therapeutic limitations of BET inhibitors and identify strategies that may overcome resistance and enhance the clinical utility of these unique targeted therapies. Comparison of iBET resistant and sensitive cell lines
Project description:Bromodomain and Extra Terminal protein (BET) inhibitors are first-in-class targeted therapies that deliver a new therapeutic paradigm by directly targeting epigenetic readers1,2. Early clinical trials have shown significant promise especially in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML)3; therefore the evaluation of resistance mechanisms, an inevitable consequence of cancer therapies, is of utmost importance to optimise the clinical efficacy of these drugs. Using primary murine stem and progenitor cells immortalised with MLL-AF9, we have used an innovative approach to generate 20 cell lines derived from single cell clones demonstrating stable resistance, in vitro and in vivo, to the prototypical BET inhibitor, I-BET. Resistance to I-BET confers cross-resistance to chemically distinct BET inhibitors such as JQ1, as well as resistance to genetic knockdown of BET proteins. Resistance is not mediated through increased drug efflux or metabolism but is demonstrated to emerge from leukaemia stem cells (LSC). Resistant clones display a leukaemic granulocyte-macrophage progenitor (L-GMP) phenotype (Lin-, Sca-, cKit+, CD34+, Fc³RII/RIII+) and functionally exhibit increased clonogenic capacity in vitro and markedly shorter leukaemia latency in vivo. Chromatin bound BRD4 is globally reduced in resistant cells, however expression of key target genes such as MYC remains unaltered, highlighting the existence of alternative mechanisms to regulate transcription. We demonstrate that resistance to BET inhibitors is in part a consequence of increased Wnt/²-catenin signaling. Negative regulation of this pathway results in differentiation of resistant cells into mature leukaemic blasts, inhibition of MYC expression and restoration of sensitivity to I-BET in vitro and in vivo. Finally, we show that the sensitivity of primary human AML cells to I-BET correlates with the baseline expression of Wnt/²-catenin target genes. Together these findings provide novel insights into the biology of AML, highlight the potential therapeutic limitations of BET inhibitors and identify strategies that may overcome resistance and enhance the clinical utility of these unique targeted therapies. Comparison of iBET resistant and sensitive cell lines
Project description:Bromodomain and Extra Terminal protein (BET) inhibitors are first-in-class targeted therapies that deliver a new therapeutic paradigm by directly targeting epigenetic readers. Early clinical trials have shown significant promise especially in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML)3; therefore the evaluation of resistance mechanisms, an inevitable consequence of cancer therapies, is of utmost importance to optimise the clinical efficacy of these drugs. Using primary murine stem and progenitor cells immortalised with MLL-AF9, we have used an innovative approach to generate 20 cell lines derived from single cell clones demonstrating stable resistance, in vitro and in vivo, to the prototypical BET inhibitor, I-BET. Resistance to I-BET confers cross-resistance to chemically distinct BET inhibitors such as JQ1, as well as resistance to genetic knockdown of BET proteins. Resistance is not mediated through increased drug efflux or metabolism but is demonstrated to emerge from leukaemia stem cells (LSC). Resistant clones display a leukaemic granulocyte-macrophage progenitor (L-GMP) phenotype (Lin-, Sca-, cKit+, CD34+, FcγRII/RIII+) and functionally exhibit increased clonogenic capacity in vitro and markedly shorter leukaemia latency in vivo. Chromatin bound BRD4 is globally reduced in resistant cells, however expression of key target genes such as MYC remains unaltered, highlighting the existence of alternative mechanisms to regulate transcription. We demonstrate that resistance to BET inhibitors is in part a consequence of increased Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Negative regulation of this pathway results in differentiation of resistant cells into mature leukaemic blasts, inhibition of MYC expression and restoration of sensitivity to I-BET in vitro and in vivo. Finally, we show that the sensitivity of primary human AML cells to I-BET correlates with the baseline expression of Wnt/β-catenin target genes. Together these findings provide novel insights into the biology of AML, highlight the potential therapeutic limitations of BET inhibitors and identify strategies that may overcome resistance and enhance the clinical utility of these unique targeted therapies. Total RNA obtained from iBET resistant and sensitive cells
Project description:Following the discovery of BRD4 as a non-oncogene addiction target in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), BET inhibitors are being explored as promising therapeutic avenue in numerous cancers. While clinical trials have reported single-agent activity in advanced hematologic malignancies, mechanisms determining the response to BET inhibition remain poorly understood. To identify factors involved in primary and acquired BET resistance in leukemia, we performed a chromatin-focused shRNAmir screen in a sensitive MLL/AF9; NrasG12D‑driven AML model, and investigated dynamic transcriptional profiles in sensitive and resistant murine and human leukemias. Our screen reveals that suppression of the PRC2 complex, contrary to effects in other contexts, promotes BET resistance in AML. PRC2 suppression does not directly affect the regulation of Brd4-dependent transcripts, but facilitates the remodeling of regulatory pathways that restore the transcription of key targets such as Myc. Similarly, while BET inhibition triggers acute MYC repression in human leukemias regardless of their sensitivity, resistant leukemias are uniformly characterized by their ability to rapidly restore MYC transcription. This process involves the activation and recruitment of WNT signaling components, which compensate for the loss of BRD4 and drive resistance in various cancer models. Dynamic ChIP- and STARR-seq enhancer profiles reveal that BET-resistant states are characterized by remodeled regulatory landscapes, involving the activation of a focal MYC enhancer that recruits WNT machinery in response to BET inhibition. Together, our results identify and validate WNT signaling as a driver and candidate biomarker of primary and acquired BET resistance in leukemia, and implicate the rewiring of transcriptional programs as an important mechanism promoting resistance to BET inhibitors and, potentially, other chromatin-targeted therapies. RNA-Seq of DMSO- or JQ1-treated cancer cell lines; ChIP-seq for H3K36me3 and H3K27me3 in a leukemia cell line treated either with DMSO or JQ1, ChIP-seq for H3K27ac in resistant and sensitive mouse and human leukemia. Functional enhancer mapping (STARR-seq) in K-562 treated either with DMSO or JQ1.
Project description:Combined gene expression and DNA occupancy profiling identifies JAK/STAT signaling as a valid therapeutic target of t(8;21) AML t(8;21) is commonly associated with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The resulting AML1-ETO fusion proteins are involved in the pathogenesis of AML. To identify novel molecular and therapeutic targets, we performed combined gene expression and promoter occupancy profiling using a primary leukemia initiating cell-enriched population induced by AML1-ETO9a (AE9a). CD45, a negative regulator of cytokine/growth factor receptor and JAK/STAT signaling, is greatly downregulated; furthermore JAK1 and JAK2 are upregulated in these leukemia cells. Consequently, JAK/STAT signaling is enhanced in the AE9a leukemia cells. Importantly, AE9a leukemia cells are highly susceptible to perturbation of JAK/STAT signaling, and a JAK2-selective inhibitor, TG101209, effectively targets these leukemia cells in vivo, suggesting the potential efficacy of JAK2 inhibitors in treating t(8;21) AML. Wild-type or AE9a leukemic samples in triplicate.
Project description:Combined gene expression and DNA occupancy profiling identifies JAK/STAT signaling as a valid therapeutic target of t(8;21) AML t(8;21) is commonly associated with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The resulting AML1-ETO fusion proteins are involved in the pathogenesis of AML. To identify novel molecular and therapeutic targets, we performed combined gene expression and promoter occupancy profiling using a primary leukemia initiating cell-enriched population induced by AML1-ETO9a (AE9a). CD45, a negative regulator of cytokine/growth factor receptor and JAK/STAT signaling, is greatly downregulated; furthermore JAK1 and JAK2 are upregulated in these leukemia cells. Consequently, JAK/STAT signaling is enhanced in the AE9a leukemia cells. Importantly, AE9a leukemia cells are highly susceptible to perturbation of JAK/STAT signaling, and a JAK2-selective inhibitor, TG101209, effectively targets these leukemia cells in vivo, suggesting the potential efficacy of JAK2 inhibitors in treating t(8;21) AML.
Project description:Bromodomain and Extra Terminal protein (BET) inhibitors are first-in-class targeted therapies that deliver a new therapeutic paradigm by directly targeting epigenetic readers. Early clinical trials have shown significant promise especially in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML)3; therefore the evaluation of resistance mechanisms, an inevitable consequence of cancer therapies, is of utmost importance to optimise the clinical efficacy of these drugs. Using primary murine stem and progenitor cells immortalised with MLL-AF9, we have used an innovative approach to generate 20 cell lines derived from single cell clones demonstrating stable resistance, in vitro and in vivo, to the prototypical BET inhibitor, I-BET. Resistance to I-BET confers cross-resistance to chemically distinct BET inhibitors such as JQ1, as well as resistance to genetic knockdown of BET proteins. Resistance is not mediated through increased drug efflux or metabolism but is demonstrated to emerge from leukaemia stem cells (LSC). Resistant clones display a leukaemic granulocyte-macrophage progenitor (L-GMP) phenotype (Lin-, Sca-, cKit+, CD34+, FcγRII/RIII+) and functionally exhibit increased clonogenic capacity in vitro and markedly shorter leukaemia latency in vivo. Chromatin bound BRD4 is globally reduced in resistant cells, however expression of key target genes such as MYC remains unaltered, highlighting the existence of alternative mechanisms to regulate transcription. We demonstrate that resistance to BET inhibitors is in part a consequence of increased Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Negative regulation of this pathway results in differentiation of resistant cells into mature leukaemic blasts, inhibition of MYC expression and restoration of sensitivity to I-BET in vitro and in vivo. Finally, we show that the sensitivity of primary human AML cells to I-BET correlates with the baseline expression of Wnt/β-catenin target genes. Together these findings provide novel insights into the biology of AML, highlight the potential therapeutic limitations of BET inhibitors and identify strategies that may overcome resistance and enhance the clinical utility of these unique targeted therapies.
Project description:Bromodomain and Extra Terminal protein (BET) inhibitors are first-in-class targeted therapies that deliver a new therapeutic paradigm by directly targeting epigenetic readers1,2. Early clinical trials have shown significant promise especially in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML)3; therefore the evaluation of resistance mechanisms, an inevitable consequence of cancer therapies, is of utmost importance to optimise the clinical efficacy of these drugs. Using primary murine stem and progenitor cells immortalised with MLL-AF9, we have used an innovative approach to generate 20 cell lines derived from single cell clones demonstrating stable resistance, in vitro and in vivo, to the prototypical BET inhibitor, I-BET. Resistance to I-BET confers cross-resistance to chemically distinct BET inhibitors such as JQ1, as well as resistance to genetic knockdown of BET proteins. Resistance is not mediated through increased drug efflux or metabolism but is demonstrated to emerge from leukaemia stem cells (LSC). Resistant clones display a leukaemic granulocyte-macrophage progenitor (L-GMP) phenotype (Lin-, Sca-, cKit+, CD34+, Fc³RII/RIII+) and functionally exhibit increased clonogenic capacity in vitro and markedly shorter leukaemia latency in vivo. Chromatin bound BRD4 is globally reduced in resistant cells, however expression of key target genes such as MYC remains unaltered, highlighting the existence of alternative mechanisms to regulate transcription. We demonstrate that resistance to BET inhibitors is in part a consequence of increased Wnt/²-catenin signaling. Negative regulation of this pathway results in differentiation of resistant cells into mature leukaemic blasts, inhibition of MYC expression and restoration of sensitivity to I-BET in vitro and in vivo. Finally, we show that the sensitivity of primary human AML cells to I-BET correlates with the baseline expression of Wnt/²-catenin target genes. Together these findings provide novel insights into the biology of AML, highlight the potential therapeutic limitations of BET inhibitors and identify strategies that may overcome resistance and enhance the clinical utility of these unique targeted therapies.