Project description:B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL) cells reside in the bone marrow microenvironment, where they are protected against chemotherapeutic agents. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are key components of this supporting framework. The present study aimed to unravel whether MSCs derived from pediatric BCP-ALL patients (leukemic MSCs) differ from MSCs derived from healthy pediatric donors (control-MSCs). Therefore, we studied their gene expression profiles after 40 hours of co-culture with primary B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells. MSCs were sorted using fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS).
Project description:Whole transcriptome RNA-seq of pediatric infant (<1year of aget at diagnosis) patients affected by B-cell precursor Acute Lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL). The aim of the study is to identify fusion gene rearrangements involved in childhood leukemia, using Next Generation Sequencing (NGS)
Project description:Targeted RNA-seq of pediatric infant (<1year of age at diagnosis) patients affected by B-cell precursor Acute Lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL). The aim of the study is to identify fusion gene rearrangements involved in childhood leukemia, using a custom targeted panel for RNA analysis by NGS.
Project description:Activation of the transcription factor FOXO1 contributes to multiple pathological processes. The FOXO1 inhibitor AS1842856 demonstrated strong therapeutic effects in pre-clinical models of common diseases like diabetes and anthracyclines-induced heart failure. We have previously identified FOXO1 as a B-ALL dependency and demonstrated in in vivo B-ALL models that AS1842856 increased the survival and decreased B-ALL tumor load in all critical organ compartments, but most efficiently in the CNS. Here, we interrogated the underlying molecular mechanisms by comparison of the transcriptomic effects of AS1842856 and Foxo1-KO in a B-ALL mouse model. Despite the significant similarity in sets of regulated genes, we identified GSK3B inhibition as a signature enriched only in AS1842856-treated cells. Using an in vitro kinase assay, we identified AS1842856 as a direct GSK3B inhibitor that ultimately stabilizes CTNNB1. CTNNB1-KO partially protected B-ALL cell lines from the cytotoxic effect of AS1842856. At the same time, using a chemical protein degradation model, we found that FOXO1 indeed contributes to the cytotoxic effect of AS1842856. We conclude that AS1842856 targets two known B-ALL vulnerabilities: GSK3B and FOXO1. The unique mode of action, low toxicity, and ability to penetrate the blood-brain barrier warrant further investigation of the therapeutic potential of AS1842856 in B-ALL.
Project description:B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL) cells reside in the bone marrow microenvironment, where they are protected against chemotherapeutic agents. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are key components of this supporting framework. The present study aimed to unravel whether MSCs derived from pediatric BCP-ALL patients (leukemic MSCs) differ from MSCs derived from healthy pediatric donors (control-MSCs). Therefore, we studied their gene expression profiles.
Project description:PAX5, a transcription factor essential for B-cell development, has been found as a frequent target of abnormalities in B-Cell Precursor Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (BCP-ALL) cases, showing point mutations, deletions, as well as translocations with several partner genes. We identified four novel PAX5 fusion partner genes by performing a screening on BCP-ALL cases with 9p rearrangements. Copy Number Variation analysis of translocated samples showed that few significant cooperative genetic lesions are present in addition to the translocation event, suggesting that it might have a primary role in leukemogenesis.
Project description:B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL) is a heterogeneous disease that can be subdivided according to primary recurrent genetic abnormalities that are strongly associated with characteristic biological and clinical features. The detection of these abnormalities can facilitate diagnosis, risk stratification, and targeted therapy. We identified an unexpectedly high incidence of fusion genes involving ZNF384 genes, including TCF3-ZNF384, EP300-ZNF384, and CREBBP-ZNF384, in BCP-ALL of our cohort. We therefore used microarrays to evaluate the gene-expression characteristics of BCP-ALL harboring ZNF384-related fusion genes and compared with those of BCP-ALL with other types of conventional genetic abnormality.
Project description:We determined the genome-wide digital gene expression (DGE) profiles of primary acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cells from 28 patients and fractionated blood cells from healthy blood donors taking advantage of “second generation” sequencing technology. The patients included in the study represent distinct subtypes of B-cell precursor (BCP) ALL and T-cell lineage ALL (T-ALL) and the controls are fractionated CD19+ and CD3+ cells.
Project description:Leukemic B-cell precursor (BCP) lymphoblasts were recently identified as a novel expression site for coagulation factor XIII subunit A (FXIII-A). The FXIII-A negative subgroup was significantly associated with the ‘B-other’ genetic category and had an unfavorable disease outcome RNA was extracted from bone marrow lymphoblasts of 42 pediatric patients with BCP-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). FXIII-A expression was determined by multiparameter FC. Genetic diagnosis was based on conventional cytogenetic method and fluorescence in situ hybridization. Affymetrix GeneChip Human Primeview array was used to analyze global expression pattern of 28869 well-annotated genes.
