Project description:We performed genome wide miRNA expression analysis to investigate the ability of miRNAs in predicting leukemia relapse from 33 t(8;21) pediatric AMLs at diagnosis divided into a training and a validation cohort. COX regression analysis and ROC curves were used to identify a powerful miRNA signature able to predict relapse in t(8;21) AML patients. miRNA profiling showed that patients with high- or low- risk of relapse had different expression profiles. We support the role of microRNAs in modulating the prognosis of t(8;21)-AML and the use of a miRNA expression signature at diagnosis to better define standard risk cases in pediatric AML.
Project description:Human histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3) plays an important role in gene transcription in diseased human cells, such as leukemia. The t(8;21) chromosomal translocation is one of the most commonly observed genetic abnormalities associated with acute myeloid leukemia. This translocation generates the AML1-ETO fusion protein between the wild-type RUNX1 transcription factor and wild-type ETO transcriptional corepressor. To better understand the role of HDAC3 in t(8;21) leukemogenesis, the human HDAC3-containing complexes were isolated from stably-transfected HeLa cells by using anti-FLAG immunoprecipitation. The resulting complexes were resolved in SDS-PAGE. The components of the complexes were identified using LC-MS/MS. We report here that the human RUNX1 transcription is a component of the HDAC3 complexes. We demonstrate that HDAC3 and RUNX1 collaboratively repress AML1-ETO-mediated transcription. These results reveal new insight into how AML1-ETO, RUNX1, and HDAC3 crosstalk to deregulate gene transcription in t(8;21) leukemia cells.
Project description:We have sequenced miRNA libraries from human embryonic, neural and foetal mesenchymal stem cells. We report that the majority of miRNA genes encode mature isomers that vary in size by one or more bases at the 3’ and/or 5’ end of the miRNA. Northern blotting for individual miRNAs showed that the proportions of isomiRs expressed by a single miRNA gene often differ between cell and tissue types. IsomiRs were readily co-immunoprecipitated with Argonaute proteins in vivo and were active in luciferase assays, indicating that they are functional. Bioinformatics analysis predicts substantial differences in targeting between miRNAs with minor 5’ differences and in support of this we report that a 5’ isomiR-9-1 gained the ability to inhibit the expression of DNMT3B and NCAM2 but lost the ability to inhibit CDH1 in vitro. This result was confirmed by the use of isomiR-specific sponges. Our analysis of the miRGator database indicates that a small percentage of human miRNA genes express isomiRs as the dominant transcript in certain cell types and analysis of miRBase shows that 5’ isomiRs have replaced canonical miRNAs many times during evolution. This strongly indicates that isomiRs are of functional importance and have contributed to the evolution of miRNA genes
Project description:We have sequenced miRNA libraries from human embryonic, neural and foetal mesenchymal stem cells. We report that the majority of miRNA genes encode mature isomers that vary in size by one or more bases at the 3’ and/or 5’ end of the miRNA. Northern blotting for individual miRNAs showed that the proportions of isomiRs expressed by a single miRNA gene often differ between cell and tissue types. IsomiRs were readily co-immunoprecipitated with Argonaute proteins in vivo and were active in luciferase assays, indicating that they are functional. Bioinformatics analysis predicts substantial differences in targeting between miRNAs with minor 5’ differences and in support of this we report that a 5’ isomiR-9-1 gained the ability to inhibit the expression of DNMT3B and NCAM2 but lost the ability to inhibit CDH1 in vitro. This result was confirmed by the use of isomiR-specific sponges. Our analysis of the miRGator database indicates that a small percentage of human miRNA genes express isomiRs as the dominant transcript in certain cell types and analysis of miRBase shows that 5’ isomiRs have replaced canonical miRNAs many times during evolution. This strongly indicates that isomiRs are of functional importance and have contributed to the evolution of miRNA genes Sequence library of miRNAs from a single sample of human foetal mesenchymal stem cells. Results tested and confirmed by northern blotting. Please note that only raw data files are available for the embryonic and neual samples and thus, directly submitted to SRA (SRX547311, SRX548700, respectively under SRP042115/PRJNA247767)
Project description:The t(8;21) translocation fuses the DNA binding domain of the hematopoietic master regulator RUNX1 to the ETO protein. The resultant RUNX1/ETO fusion protein is a leukemia-initiating transcription factor that interferes with RUNX1 function. The result of this interference is a block in differentiation and, finally, the development of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). To obtain insights into RUNX1/ETO-dependant alterations of the epigenetic landscape we measured genome-wide RUNX1- and RUNX1/ETO bound regions in t(8;21) cells and assessed to what extent the effects of RUNX1/ETO on the epigenome depend on its continued expression in established leukemic cells. To this end we determined dynamic alterations of histone acetylation, RNA Polymerase II binding and RUNX1 occupancy in the presence or absence of RUNX1/ETO using a knockdown approach. Combined global assessments of chromatin accessibility and kinetic gene expression data show that RUNX1/ETO controls the expression of important regulators of hematopoietic differentiation and self-renewal. We show that selective removal of RUNX1/ETO leads to a widespread reversal of epigenetic reprogramming and a genome-wide re-distribution of RUNX1 binding, resulting in the inhibition of leukemic proliferation and self-renewal and the induction of differentiation. This demonstrates that RUNX1/ETO represents a pivotal therapeutic target in AML. 14 samples include: RUNX1 Kasumi-1, RUNX1/ETO control, RUNX1/ETO siMM, RUNX1/ETO siRE, RUNX1_non-t(8;21), H3K9Ac_siMM, H3K9Ac_siRE, POLII_siMM and POLII_siRE ChIP-Seq samples, and Kasumi-1, non-t(8;21), t(8;21) paitent#1, t(8;21) paitent#2 and CD34 normal DNasel HS samples.
Project description:In acute myeloid leukemia (AML) non-random clonal chromosome aberrations are detectable in ~55% of adults with AML. Translocation t(8;21)(q22;q22) resulting in the 5'RUNX1/3'RUNX1T1 fusion gene occurs in ~8% of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cases. Also, insertions ins(8;21) and ins(21;8) have been described that show a broad heterogeneity at the molecular level with inserted fragment sizes ranging from 2.4 to 44 Mb. Microarray-based comparative genomic hybridization (arrayCGH) in 49 intermediate-risk AML and RT-PCR-based screening in 532 AML cases allowed the detection of ins(21;8)/ins(8;21) in three cases; arrayCGH and subsequent RT-PCR revealed an ~0.5 Mb sized inserted fragment generating the 5'RUNX1/3'RUNX1T1 fusion gene in one case with a submicroscopic ins(21;8)(q22;q22q22) whereas the other two cases were identified by banding analysis and RT-PCR, respectively. Gene expression profiling (GEP) and a detailed review of the literature highlighted similar biological features of AML cases with ins(21;8)/ins(8;21) and t(8;21)(q22;q22). Our study demonstrates the potential of high-resolution array-based analysis and GEP and provides further evidence that AML with insertions generating the 5'RUNX1/3'RUNX1T1 fusion not only biologically resemble the t(8;21)(q22;q22) AML subgroup, but might also share their prognostically favorable clinical behavior. Thus, similar treatment options should be considered in these patients. An all pairs experiment design type is where all labeled extracts are compared to every other labeled extract.