Project description:Cooperation of MLL/AF10 with RAS pathway mutations accelerated myeloid leukemia development. The detail molecular mechanism is analyzed by identification of the differentially expressed genes between MLL/AF10 cells harboring wild-type and mutant RAS pathway genes and by with or without Hoxa11. We used cDNA microarray to compare transcriptomes between mouse MLL/AF10 myeloid leukemia cells harboring wild-type KRAS and harboring KRAS-G12C (AKw1G and AK3G), or between MLL/AF10 cells harboring wild-type PTPN11 and harboring PTPN11-G503A (APw-1 and APm-1), or between MLL/AF10 cells without and with Hoxa11 (12G-V and 12G-H11).
Project description:MLL fusion proteins in leukemia induce aberrant transcriptional elongation and associated chromatin perturbations, however the upstream signaling pathways and activators that recruit or retain MLL oncoproteins at initiated promoters are unknown. Through functional and comparative genomic studies, we identified an essential role for NF-kB signaling in MLL leukemia. Suppression of NF-kB led to robust anti-leukemia effects that phenocopied loss of functional MLL oncoprotein or associated epigenetic cofactors. The NF-kB subunit RELA occupies promoter regions of crucial MLL target genes and sustains the MLL-dependent leukemia stem cell program. IKK/NF-kB signaling is required for wild-type MLL and fusion protein retention and maintenance of associated histone modifications providing a molecular rationale for enhanced efficacy in therapeutic targeting of this pathway in MLL leukemias. MLL-AF10 cells were treated with 0.5µM IKK inhibitor or vehicle. Each group contains triplicate samples.
Project description:Purpose: The goals of this study are to compare transcriptomes after shutting off the CALM-AF10, MLL-AF10 and MLL-AF9 fusion proteins in mouse AML cells. Furthermore, we also perform transcriptomic experiments to assess the changes in transcripts upon JAK1 deletion in mouse CALM-AF10 AML. Methods: Mouse AMLs cells grown in Mouse leukemia medium (see below) were treated with DMSO (Tet-On) or 4ug/ul Doxycycline (Tet-Off) and RNA was isolated to perform RNA-seq. RNA for CALM-AF10, MLL-AF10 was poly-A selected and MLL-AF9, total RNA was used to make RNAseq libraries using the NEB RNAseq lbrary prep kit. The sequence reads that passed quality filters were analyzed at the transcript isoform level with two methods: Burrows–Wheeler Aligner (BWA) followed by ANOVA (ANOVA) and TopHat followed by Cufflinks. qRT–PCR validation was performed using TaqMan and SYBR Green assays Results: Using an optimized data analysis workflow, we mapped about 20 million sequence reads per sample to the mouse genome (build mm9) and 60 million reads for MLL-AF9 data. Data analysis with BWA and TopHat workflows revealed genes that are significantly changed after shutting off the fusions or after deleting Jak1 in CALM-AF10 Jak1 floxed cells using the Cre recombinase. Conclusions:
Project description:MLL fusion proteins in leukemia induce aberrant transcriptional elongation and associated chromatin perturbations, however the upstream signaling pathways and activators that recruit or retain MLL oncoproteins at initiated promoters are unknown. Through functional and comparative genomic studies, we identified an essential role for NF-kB signaling in MLL leukemia. Suppression of NF-kB led to robust anti-leukemia effects that phenocopied loss of functional MLL oncoprotein or associated epigenetic cofactors. The NF-kB subunit RELA occupies promoter regions of crucial MLL target genes and sustains the MLL-dependent leukemia stem cell program. IKK/NF-kB signaling is required for wild-type MLL and fusion protein retention and maintenance of associated histone modifications providing a molecular rationale for enhanced efficacy in therapeutic targeting of this pathway in MLL leukemias. MV4;11 cells were treated with 1µM IKK inhibitor or vehicle. Each group contains triplicate samples
Project description:Background: MLL (KMT2A)-EB1 (MAPRE1) fusion was identified in a patient with de novo pro-B acute lymphoblastic leukemia. To investigate the leukemogenesis of MLL-EB1 fusion, a retroviral transduction of MLL-EB1 to murine bone marrow cells was performed. A frequent MLL fusion, MLL-AF10(OM-LZ), was used as a positive control. Results: Two MLL-EB1 immortalized cell lines (ME1 and ME2G), and a MLL-AF10(OM-LZ) immortalized cell line (12G) were generated. Microarray results showed that many genes including Evi1 and Ets1 were differentially expressed in ME1/ME2G and 12G cell lines.
Project description:Background: MLL-rearranged (MLLr) acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and acute lymphoid leukemia (ALL) involve reciprocal oncogenic translocations of the KMT2A/KMT2B (MLL1/MLL2) gene on chromosome 11q23 with various translocation partner genes, which yields to chimeric MLL fusion proteins (MLL-FPs). Menin, the protein product of the MEN1 gene, is essential for the leukemogenic activity of MLL-FPs. Revumenib, a small-molecule inhibitor that selectively disrupts the menin-MLL interaction, has recently received FDA approval for clinical use for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with relapsed or refractory MLLr acute leukemia. Notably, menin also interacts with the AP-1 transcription factor JUND through a conserved sequence identical to that required for MLL-FP binding. Despite this structural similarity, the impact of menin-MLL inhibitors on JUND function has remained unexplored. Results: In this study, we investigated the influence of menin-MLL inhibitors on JUND activity. Quantitative mass spectrometry analysis of MLLr leukemia cells treated with menin-MLL inhibitors demonstrated that they also disrupt menin-JUND protein interactions. Furthermore, CRISPR-mediated inactivation of JUND or pharmacological inhibition using JNK inhibitors synergistically enhanced the anti-leukemic effects of menin-MLL inhibitors, leading to reduced cell proliferation, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. RNA sequencing and chromatin binding assays revealed that menin-MLL inhibitor treatment increases JUND chromatin occupancy, leading to upregulation of target gene expression and potentially contributing to the development of resistance to menin-MLL inhibitors. Mouse models engrafted with JUND-deficient leukemia cells exhibited reduced tumor burden compared to control mice engrafted with wild type leukemic cells. Conclusion: These findings suggest that targeting JUND activity may significantly enhance the efficacy of menin-MLL inhibitors towards MLLr leukemia cells.
Project description:Background: MLL-rearranged (MLLr) acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and acute lymphoid leukemia (ALL) involve reciprocal oncogenic translocations of the KMT2A/KMT2B (MLL1/MLL2) gene on chromosome 11q23 with various translocation partner genes, which yields to chimeric MLL fusion proteins (MLL-FPs). Menin, the protein product of the MEN1 gene, is essential for the leukemogenic activity of MLL-FPs. Revumenib, a small-molecule inhibitor that selectively disrupts the menin-MLL interaction, has recently received FDA approval for clinical use for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with relapsed or refractory MLLr acute leukemia. Notably, menin also interacts with the AP-1 transcription factor JUND through a conserved sequence identical to that required for MLL-FP binding. Despite this structural similarity, the impact of menin-MLL inhibitors on JUND function has remained unexplored. Results: In this study, we investigated the influence of menin-MLL inhibitors on JUND activity. Quantitative mass spectrometry analysis of MLLr leukemia cells treated with menin-MLL inhibitors demonstrated that they also disrupt menin-JUND protein interactions. Furthermore, CRISPR-mediated inactivation of JUND or pharmacological inhibition using JNK inhibitors synergistically enhanced the anti-leukemic effects of menin-MLL inhibitors, leading to reduced cell proliferation, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. RNA sequencing and chromatin binding assays revealed that menin-MLL inhibitor treatment increases JUND chromatin occupancy, leading to upregulation of target gene expression and potentially contributing to the development of resistance to menin-MLL inhibitors. Mouse models engrafted with JUND-deficient leukemia cells exhibited reduced tumor burden compared to control mice engrafted with wild type leukemic cells. Conclusion: These findings suggest that targeting JUND activity may significantly enhance the efficacy of menin-MLL inhibitors towards MLLr leukemia cells.
Project description:Background: MLL-rearranged (MLLr) acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and acute lymphoid leukemia (ALL) involve reciprocal oncogenic translocations of the KMT2A/KMT2B (MLL1/MLL2) gene on chromosome 11q23 with various translocation partner genes, which yields to chimeric MLL fusion proteins (MLL-FPs). Menin, the protein product of the MEN1 gene, is essential for the leukemogenic activity of MLL-FPs. Revumenib, a small-molecule inhibitor that selectively disrupts the menin-MLL interaction, has recently received FDA approval for clinical use for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with relapsed or refractory MLLr acute leukemia. Notably, menin also interacts with the AP-1 transcription factor JUND through a conserved sequence identical to that required for MLL-FP binding. Despite this structural similarity, the impact of menin-MLL inhibitors on JUND function has remained unexplored. Results: In this study, we investigated the influence of menin-MLL inhibitors on JUND activity. Quantitative mass spectrometry analysis of MLLr leukemia cells treated with menin-MLL inhibitors demonstrated that they also disrupt menin-JUND protein interactions. Furthermore, CRISPR-mediated inactivation of JUND or pharmacological inhibition using JNK inhibitors synergistically enhanced the anti-leukemic effects of menin-MLL inhibitors, leading to reduced cell proliferation, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. RNA sequencing and chromatin binding assays revealed that menin-MLL inhibitor treatment increases JUND chromatin occupancy, leading to upregulation of target gene expression and potentially contributing to the development of resistance to menin-MLL inhibitors. Mouse models engrafted with JUND-deficient leukemia cells exhibited reduced tumor burden compared to control mice engrafted with wild type leukemic cells. Conclusion: These findings suggest that targeting JUND activity may significantly enhance the efficacy of menin-MLL inhibitors towards MLLr leukemia cells.