Faculty, Staff and Student Publications
Publication Date
5-1-2022
Journal
Leukemia
Abstract
The NOTCH1-MYC-CD44 axis integrates cell-intrinsic and extrinsic signaling to ensure the persistence of leukemia-initiating cells (LICs) in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) but a common pathway to target this circuit is poorly defined. Bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) is implicated to have a role in the transcriptional regulation of oncogenes MYC and targets downstream of NOTCH1, and here we demonstrate its role in transcriptional regulation of CD44. Hence, targeting BRD4 will dismantle the NOTCH1-MYC-CD44 axis. As a proof of concept, degrading BRD4 with proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) ARV-825, prolonged the survival of mice in Notch1 mutated patient-derived xenograft (PDX) and genetic models (ΔPTEN) of T-ALL. Single-cell proteomics analysis from the PDX model, demonstrated quantitative reduction of LICs (CD34+ CD7+ CD19-) and downregulation of the NOTCH1-MYC-CD44 axis, along with cell cycle, apoptosis and PI3K/Akt pathways. Moreover, secondary transplantation from PDX and ΔPTEN models of T-ALL, confirmed delayed leukemia development and extended survival of mice engrafted with T-ALL from ARV-825 treated mice, providing functional confirmation of depletion of LICs. Hence, BRD4 degradation is a promising LIC-targeting therapy for T-ALL.
Keywords
Animals, Cell Cycle Proteins, Cell Line, Tumor, Humans, Hyaluronan Receptors, Mice, Nuclear Proteins, Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases, Precursor T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma, Receptor, Notch1, Signal Transduction, Transcription Factors, Acute lymphocytic leukaemia, Cell signalling
DOI
10.1038/s41375-022-01516-1
PMID
35173274
PMCID
PMC9061299
PubMedCentral® Posted Date
2-16-2022
PubMedCentral® Full Text Version
Post-print
Published Open-Access
yes
Included in
Bioinformatics Commons, Biomedical Informatics Commons, Hematology Commons, Hemic and Lymphatic Diseases Commons, Medical Sciences Commons, Oncology Commons
