Targeting histone methylation to reprogram the transcriptional state that drives survival of drug-tolerant myeloid leukemia persisters.

Although chemotherapy induces complete remission in the majority of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients, many face a relapse. This relapse is caused by survival of chemotherapy-resistant leukemia (stem) cells (measurable residual disease; MRD). Here, we demonstrate that the anthracycline doxorubicin epigenetically reprograms leukemia cells by inducing histone 3 lysine 27 (H3K27) and H3K4 tri-methylation. Within a doxorubicin-sensitive leukemia cell population, we identified a subpopulation of reversible anthracycline-tolerant cells (ATCs) with leukemic stem cell (LSC) features lacking doxorubicin-induced H3K27me3 or H3K4me3 upregulation. These ATCs have a distinct transcriptional landscape than the leukemia bulk and could be eradicated by KDM6 inhibition. In primary AML, reprogramming the transcriptional state by targeting KDM6 reduced MRD load and survival of LSCs residing within MRD, and enhanced chemotherapy response in vivo. Our results reveal plasticity of anthracycline resistance in AML cells and highlight the potential of transcriptional reprogramming by epigenetic-based therapeutics to target chemotherapy-resistant AML cells.

Constitutively active GSK3ß as a means to bolster dendritic cell functionality in the face of tumour-mediated immune suppression.

In patients with cancer, the functionality of Dendritic Cells (DC) is hampered by high levels of tumor-derived suppressive cytokines, which interfere with DC development and maturation. Poor DC development can limit the efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade and in vivo vaccination approaches. Interference in intracellular signaling cascades downstream from the receptors of major tumor-associated suppressive cytokines like IL-10 and IL-6, might improve DC development and activation, and thus enhance immunotherapy efficacy. We performed exploratory functional screens on arrays consisting of >1000 human kinase peptide substrates to identify pathways involved in DC development and its inhibition by IL-10 or IL-6. The resulting alterations in phosphorylation of the kinome substrate profile pointed to glycogen-synthase kinase-3ß (GSK3ß) as a pivotal kinase in both DC development and suppression. GSK3ß inhibition blocked human DC differentiation in vitro, which was accompanied by decreased levels of IL-12p70 secretion, and a reduced capacity for T cell priming. More importantly, adenoviral transduction of monocytes with a constitutively active form of GSK3ß induced resistance to the suppressive effects of IL-10 and melanoma-derived supernatants alike, resulting in improved DC development, accompanied by up-regulation of co-stimulatory markers, an increase in CD83 expression levels in mature DC, and diminished release of IL-10. Moreover, adenovirus-mediated intratumoral manipulation of this pathway in an in vivo melanoma model resulted in DC activation and recruitment, and in improved immune surveillance and tumor control. We propose the induction of constitutive GSK3ß activity as a novel therapeutic means to bolster DC functionality in the tumor microenvironment.

IGFBP7 Induces Differentiation and Loss of Survival of Human Acute Myeloid Leukemia Stem Cells without Affecting Normal Hematopoiesis.

Leukemic stem cells (LSCs) are thought to be the major cause of the recurrence of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) due to their potential for self-renewal. To identify therapeutic strategies targeting LSCs, while sparing healthy hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), we performed gene expression profiling of LSCs, HSCs, and leukemic progenitors all residing within the same AML bone marrow and identified insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 7 (IGFBP7) as differentially expressed. Low IGFBP7 is a feature of LSCs and is associated with reduced chemotherapy sensitivity. Enhancing IGFBP7 by overexpression or addition of recombinant human IGFBP7 (rhIGFBP7) resulted in differentiation, inhibition of cell survival, and increased chemotherapy sensitivity of primary AML cells. Adding rhIGFBP7 reduced leukemic stem and/or progenitor survival and reversed a stem-like gene signature, but it had no influence on normal hematopoietic stem cell survival. Our data suggest a potential clinical utility of the addition of rhIGFBP7 to current chemotherapy regimens to decrease AML relapse rates.

Guidance of Drosophila Mushroom Body Axons Depends upon DRL-Wnt Receptor Cleavage in the Brain Dorsomedial Lineage Precursors.

In vivo axon pathfinding mechanisms in the neuron-dense brain remain relatively poorly characterized. We study the Drosophila mushroom body (MB) axons, whose α and ß branches connect to different brain areas. We show that the Ryk family WNT5 receptor, DRL (derailed), which is expressed in the dorsomedial lineages, brain structure precursors adjacent to the MBs, is required for MB α branch axon guidance. DRL acts to capture and present WNT5 to MB axons rather than transduce a WNT5 signal. DRL's ectodomain must be cleaved and shed to guide α axons. DRL-2, another Ryk, is expressed within MB axons and functions as a repulsive WNT5 signaling receptor. Finally, our biochemical data support the existence of a ternary complex composed of the cleaved DRL ectodomain, WNT5, and DRL-2. Thus, the interaction of MB-extrinsic and -intrinsic Ryks via their common ligand acts to guide MB α axons.

Uridine 5'-triphosphate promotes in vitro Schwannoma cell migration through matrix metalloproteinase-2 activation.

In response to peripheral nerve injury, Schwann cells adopt a migratory phenotype and modify the extracellular matrix to make it permissive for cell migration and axonal re-growth. Uridine 5'-triphosphate (UTP) and other nucleotides are released during nerve injury and activate purinergic receptors expressed on the Schwann cell surface, but little is known about the involvement of purine signalling in wound healing. We studied the effect of UTP on Schwannoma cell migration and wound closure and the intracellular signaling pathways involved. We found that UTP treatment induced Schwannoma cell migration through activation of P2Y2 receptors and through the increase of extracellular matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) activation and expression. Knockdown P2Y2 receptor or MMP-2 expression greatly reduced wound closure and MMP-2 activation induced by UTP. MMP-2 activation evoked by injury or UTP was also mediated by phosphorylation of all 3 major mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs): JNK, ERK1/2, and p38. Inhibition of these MAPK pathways decreased both MMP-2 activation and cell migration. Interestingly, MAPK phosphorylation evoked by UTP exhibited a biphasic pattern, with an early transient phosphorylation 5 min after treatment, and a late and sustained phosphorylation that appeared at 6 h and lasted up to 24 h. Inhibition of MMP-2 activity selectively blocked the late, but not the transient, phase of MAPK activation. These results suggest that MMP-2 activation and late MAPK phosphorylation are part of a positive feedback mechanism to maintain the migratory phenotype for wound healing. In conclusion, our findings show that treatment with UTP stimulates in vitro Schwannoma cell migration and wound repair through a MMP-2-dependent mechanism via P2Y2 receptors and MAPK pathway activation.

Homodimerization of the Wnt receptor DERAILED recruits the Src family kinase SRC64B.

Ryk pseudokinase receptors act as important transducers of Wnt signals, particularly in the nervous system. Little is known, however, of their interactions at the cell surface. Here, we show that a Drosophila Ryk family member, DERAILED (DRL), forms cell surface homodimers and can also heterodimerize with the two other fly Ryks, DERAILED-2 and DOUGHNUT ON 2. DERAILED homodimerization levels increase significantly in the presence of its ligand, WNT5. In addition, DERAILED displays ligand-independent dimerization mediated by a motif in its transmembrane domain. Increased dimerization of DRL upon WNT5 binding or upon the replacement of DERAILED's extracellular domain with the immunoglobulin Fc domain results in an increased recruitment of the Src family kinase SRC64B, a previously identified downstream pathway effector. Formation of the SRC64B/DERAILED complex requires SRC64B's SH2 domain and DERAILED's PDZ-binding motif. Mutations in DERAILED's inactive tyrosine kinase-homologous domain also disrupt the formation of DERAILED/SRC64B complexes, indicating that its conformation is likely important in facilitating its interaction with SRC64B. Finally, we show that DERAILED's function during embryonic axon guidance requires its Wnt-binding domain, a putative juxtamembrane extracellular tetrabasic cleavage site, and the PDZ-binding domain, indicating that DERAILED's activation involves a complex set of events including both dimerization and proteolytic processing.

N-cadherin expression is regulated by UTP in schwannoma cells.

Schwann cells (SCs) are peripheral myelinating glial cells that express the neuronal Ca(2+)-dependent cell adhesion molecule, neural cadherin (N-cadherin). N-cadherin is involved in glia-glia and axon-glia interactions and participates in many key events, which range from the control of axonal growth and guidance to synapse formation and plasticity. Extracellular UTP activates P2Y purinergic receptors and exerts short- and long-term effects on several tissues to promote wound healing. Nevertheless, the contribution of P2Y receptors in peripheral nervous system functions is not completely understood. The current study demonstrated that UTP induced a dose- and time-dependent increase in N-cadherin expression in SCs. Furthermore, N-cadherin expression was blocked by the P2 purinoceptor antagonist suramin. The increased N-cadherin expression induced by UTP was mediated by phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), such as Jun N-terminal kinase, extracellular-regulated kinase and p38 kinase. Moreover, the Rho kinase inhibitor Y27632, the phospholipase C inhibitor U73122 and the protein kinase C inhibitor calphostin C attenuated the UTP-induced activation of MAPKs significantly. Extracellular UTP also modulated increased in the expression of the early transcription factors c-Fos and c-Jun. We also demonstrated that the region of the N-cadherin promoter between nucleotide positions -3698 and -2620, which contained one activator protein-1-binding site, was necessary for UTP-induced gene expression. These results suggest a novel role for P2Y purinergic receptors in the regulation of N-cadherin expression in SCs.

UTP affects the Schwannoma cell line proteome through P2Y receptors leading to cytoskeletal reorganisation.

Glial cells in the peripheral nervous system, such as Schwann cells, respond to nucleotides, which play an important role in axonal regeneration and myelination. Metabotropic P2Y receptor agonists are promising therapeutic molecules for peripheral neuropathies. Nevertheless, the proteomic mechanisms involved in nucleotide action on Schwann cells remain unknown. Here, we studied intracellular protein changes in RT4-D6P2T Schwann cells after treatment with nucleotides and Nucleo CMP Forte (CMPF), a nucleotide-based drug. After treatment with CMPF, 2-D DIGE revealed 11 differential gel spots, which were all upregulated. Among these, six different proteins were identified by MS. Some of these proteins are involved in actin remodelling (actin-related protein, Arp3), membrane vesicle transport (Rab GDP dissociation inhibitor ß, Rab GDI), and the endoplasmic reticulum stress response (protein disulfide isomerase A3, PDI), which are hallmarks of a possible P2Y receptor signalling pathway. Expression of P2Y receptors in RT4-D6P2T cells was demonstrated by RT-PCR and a transient elevation of intracellular calcium measured in response to UTP. Actin reorganisation was visualized after UTP treatment using phalloidin-FITC staining and was blocked by the P2Y antagonist suramin, which also inhibited Arp3, Rab GDI, and PDI protein upregulation. Our data indicate that extracellular UTP interacts with Schwann P2Y receptors and activates molecular machinery that induces changes in the glial cell cytoskeleton.

Generation of digital responses in stress sensors.

Ultrasensitivity, hysteresis (a form of biochemical memory), and all-or-none (digital) responses are important signaling properties for the control of irreversible processes and are well characterized in the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) system using Xenopus oocytes. Our aim was to study these properties in the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling system under stress conditions that could engage a cell death program, and compare them to the JNK responses. After characterization of Xenopus AMPK, we show here that the response to antimycin (nonapoptotic) was slightly cooperative and graded (analog) in individual oocytes, whereas the response to sorbitol (which induced cytochrome c release and caspase activation) was ultrasensitive, digital in single cells, and without hysteresis, hallmarks of a monostable system. Moreover, initial graded responses of AMPK and JNK turned into digital during a critical period for the execution of the cell death program, although single cell analysis did not show complete correlation between AMPK or JNK activation and cytochrome c release. We propose a model where the life or death decision in the cell is made by integration of multiple digital signals from stress sensors.