Project description:CircMYBL2 is more highly expressed in AML patients with FLT3-ITD mutations than in those without the FLT3-ITD mutation. We found that circMYBL2 knockdown specifically inhibits proliferation and promotes the differentiation of FLT3-ITD AML cells in vitro and in vivo. We used the ribosome profiling and RNA-seq libraries sequenced with Illumina HiSeq 2500 to identify the mRNA that circMYBL2 targeted. Interestingly, we found that circMYBL2 significantly influences the protein level of mutant FLT3 kinase, which contributes to the activation of FLT3-ITD-dependent signaling pathways. Mechanistically, circMYBL2 enhanced the translational efficiency of FLT3 kinase by increasing the binding of PTBP1 to FLT3 mRNA. Moreover, circMYBL2 knockdown impaired the cytoactivity of inhibitor-resistant FLT3-ITD-positive cells, with a significant decrease in FLT3 kinase expression, followed by the inactivation of its downstream pathways. In summary, we are the first to reveal a circRNA that specifically influences FLT3-ITD AML and regulates FLT3 kinase levels through translational regulation, suggesting that circMYBL2 may be a potential therapeutic target for FLT3-ITD AML.
Project description:Gene expression analysis of mutations of WT, Tet2/FLT3, Dnmt3a/FLT3, and Dnmt3a/Tet2/FLT3 from bone marrow cells of mice to study regulation of AML in humans.
Project description:This SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below. The purpose of the experiment is to investigate transcriptome signatures of FLT3-ITD and TKD double mutations in AML cells (primary samples and Ba/F3 cell) and the underlying molecular mechanism of mutation-driven acquired resistance. We identify 310 upregulated and 22 downregulated promoters in FLT3-ITD/D835 mutant AML cells compared to cells with FLT3-ITD (FDR<0.05), and 1945 upregulated and 1470 downregulated promoters in FLT3-ITD/D835 mutant Ba/F3 cells compared to cells with FLT3-ITD.
Project description:Diagnostic samples of peripheral blood form acute myeloid leukemia were analysed for gene expression differences MLL Munich Leukemia Laboratory FLT3-ITD positive and negative AML were compared
Project description:The FLT3-ITD mutation occurs in about 30% of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and is associated with poor prognosis. However, FLT3 inhibitors are only partially effective and prone to acquired resistance. Here, we identified Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1) as a tumor suppressor in FLT3-ITD+ AML. YAP1 inactivation conferred FLT3-ITD+ AML cells resistance to chemo- and targeted therapy. Mass spectrometric assay revealed DNA damage repair gene poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1) might be the downstream of YAP1, and the pro-proliferative effect by YAP1 knockdown were partly reversed via PARP1 inhibitor. Importantly, histone deacetylase 10 (HDAC10) contributed to decreased YAP1 acetylation levels through histone H3 lysine 27 (H3K27) acetylation, leading to the reduced nuclear accumulation of YAP1. Selective HDAC10 inhibitor chidamide or HDAC10 knockdown activated YAP1, enhanced DNA damage and significantly attenuated FLT3-ITD+ AML cells resistance. Additionally, combination chidamide with FLT3 inhibitors or chemotherapy agents synergistically inhibited growth and increased apoptosis of FLT3-ITD+AML cell lines and acquired resistant cells from the relapse FLT3-ITD+ AML patients. These findings demonstrate that the HDAC10-YAP1-PARP1 axis maintains FLT3-ITD+ AML cells and targeting this axis might improve clinical outcomes in FLT3-ITD+ AML patients._x001F__x001F__x001F__x001F_
Project description:The purpose of the experiment is to investigate transcriptome signatures of FLT3-ITD and TKD double mutations in AML and the underlying molecular mechanism of mutation-driven acquired resistance. We identify that 310 upregulated and 22 downregulated promoters in FLT3-ITD/D835 mutant AML cells compared to cells with FLT3-ITD (FDR<0.05).
Project description:Effectively targeting leukemia-initiating cells (LIC) in FLT3-internal-tandem-duplication (ITD)-mutated acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remains a crucial goal for achievement of cure. FLT3 tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) have limited impact as single agents and have thus far been unable to eradicate LIC enriched in the CD34+CD38- bone marrow compartment and protected by contact with niche cells.Using primary AML samples in vitro as well as in an in vivo xenograft model, we investigated whether combining the novel FLT3-selective TKI crenolanib with the hypomethylating agent azacitidine (AZA) can eliminate LIC in FLT3-ITD+ AML and determined whether efficacy of this combination is dependent on coexisting genetic mutations in DNMT3A, NPM1 and TET2. Our data show that crenolanib as a single agent was unable to target FLT3-ITD+ LIC in contact with niche cells while the addition of AZA overcame stromal protection and resulted in dramatically reduced clonogenic capacity of FLT3-ITD+ LIC in vitro as well as severely impaired engraftment capacity of FLT3-ITD+ LIC in NSG mice. Strikingly, FLT3-mutated AML samples harboring concurrent TET2 mutations were completely resistant to crenolanib as a single agent. Mutations in DNMT3A or NPM1 had no influence on response to crenolanib while DNMT3A mutations conferred increased sensitivity of FLT3-ITD+ LIC to AZA. Our data suggest that response to crenolanib or AZA as single agents in FLT3-ITD+ AML is highly dependent on coexisting mutations in epigenetic regulators. However, the combination of AZA + crenolanib effectively eliminated FLT3-ITD+ LIC irrespective of additional mutations in NPM1, DNMT3A or TET2.
Project description:The presence of FLT3-ITD mutations in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is associated with poor clinical outcome. FLT3 tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), although effective in kinase ablation, do not eliminate FLT3-ITD+ leukemia stem cells (LSCs) which are potential sources of disease relapse, prompting us to ask whether FLT3-ITD protein regulates the AML LSCs survival through a kinase-independent mechanism. Here, we show that expression of PRMT1, the primary type I arginine methyltransferase, significantly increases in LSC-enriched CD34+CD38- populations relative to normal counterparts. Genetic PRMT1 depletion blocked AML CD34+ cell survival, and had more potent effects in AML cells from patients harboring FLT3-ITD. Our genome wide analysis of gene expression and PRMT1 conditional KO mouse study confirmed that PRMT1 preferentially cooperates with FLT3-ITD contributing to AML cell maintenance. Mechanistically, PRMT1 catalyzed FLT3-ITD protein methylation at arginines 972/973, and PRMT1 promoted leukemia cell growth in a FLT3 methylation-dependent manner. Moreover, effects of FLT3-ITD methylation in AML cells were in part due to crosstalk with FLT3-ITD phosphorylation at tyrosine 969 (Y969). Importantly, FLT3 methylation persisted in FLT3-ITD+ AML cells following TKI (AC220) treatment, indicating that methylation occurs independently of kinase activity. Finally, in both patient-derived xenograft (PDX) and murine AML models, combined administration of AC220 with a type I PRMT inhibitor (MS023) enhanced elimination of FLT3-ITD+ AML relative to AC220 treatment alone. Our study demonstrates that PRMT1-mediated FLT3 methylation promotes LSC activity and suggests that combining PRMT1 inhibition with FLT3 TKI treatment could be a promising approach to selectively target FLT3-ITD+ LSCs.
Project description:The expression level of microRNAs in FLT3-ITD+ AML is unknown. Using empty vector (EV) lentiviral CRISPR-Cas9 infected FLT3-ITD+ AML cell lines (MV4-11 cells), we performed next generation RNA sequencing on small RNAs to determine microRNA expression level in these cells. We found a variety of evolutionarily conserved and non-conserved microRNAs expressed in our cells of interest. Small RNAseq on EV lentiviral CRISPR-Cas9 infected MV4-11 cell lines was performed on triplicate cultures.
Project description:Internal tandem duplications in the tyrosine kinase receptor FLT3 (FLT3-ITD) are among the most common lesions in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and there exists a need for new forms of treatment. Using ex vivo drug sensitivity screening, we found that FLT3-ITD+ patient cells are particularly sensitive to HSP90 inhibitors. While it is well known that HSP90 is important for FLT3-ITD stability, we found that HSP90 family members play a much more complex role in FLT3-ITD signaling than previously appreciated. First, we found that FLT3-ITD activates the unfolded protein response (UPR), leading to increased expression of GRP94/HSP90B1. GRP94 rewires FLT3-ITD signaling by binding and retaining FLT3-ITD in the ER, where it aberrantly activates downstream signaling pathways. Second, HSP90 family proteins protect FLT3-ITD+ AML cells against apoptosis by alleviating proteotoxic stress, and treatment with HSP90 inhibitors results in proteotoxic overload that triggers UPR-induced apoptosis. Importantly, leukemic stem cells are strongly dependent upon HSP90 for their survival, and the HSP90 inhibitor ganetespib causes leukemic stem cell exhaustion in mouse PDX models. Taken together, our study reveals a molecular basis for HSP90 addiction of FLT3-ITD+ AML cells and provides a rationale for including HSP90 inhibitors in the treatment regime for FLT3-ITD+ AML.