Ibrutinib downregulates a subset of miRNA leading to upregulation of tumor suppressors and inhibition of cell proliferation in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

The lymph node (LN) is the site of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cell activation and proliferation. Aberrant microRNA (miRNA) expression has been shown to have a role in CLL pathogenesis; however, a comparison of miRNA expression between CLL cells in the LN and the peripheral blood (PB) has previously not been reported. On the basis of the analysis of 17 paired LN and PB samples from CLL patients, we identify a panel of miRNAs that are increased in LN CLL cells correlating with an activation phenotype. When evaluated in CLL cells from 38 patients pre and post treatment with ibrutinib, a subset of these miRNAs (miR-22, miR-34a, miR-146b and miR-181b) was significantly decreased in response to ibrutinib. A concomitant increase in putative miRNA target transcripts (ARID1B, ARID2, ATM, CYLD, FOXP1, HDAC1, IBTK, PTEN and SMAD4) was also observed. Functional studies confirmed targets of ibrutinib-responsive miRNAs to include messenger RNA transcripts of multiple tumor suppressors. Knockdown of endogenous miR-34a and miR146b resulted in increased transcription of tumor suppressors and inhibition of cell proliferation. These findings demonstrate that ibrutinib downregulates the expression of a subset of miRNAs related to B-cell activation leading to increased expression of miRNA targets including tumor suppressors and a reduction in cell proliferation.

Implication of Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony Stimulating Factor (GM-CSF) and Interleukin-3 (IL-3) in Children with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML).

Granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and Interleukin-3 (IL-3) are increasingly used to stimulate granulopoiesis in neutropenic patients but these are rarely used in the lights of knowledge of the endogenous CSF-levels. In this study we measured serum levels of GM-CSF and IL-3 at diagnosis and after remission in children with acute leukaemia, using an enzyme linked immuno-sorbent assay (ELISA) techniques in 14 patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and 27 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). Twelve healthy age-matched children were used as a reference group. AML patients showed a highly significant increase in serum levels of GM-CSF and IL-3 before induction of therapy (p < 0.0001) compared to the reference control group, with a highly significant decline of both GM-CSF and IL-3 (p < 0.0001) after successful remission. On the other hand, ALL patients showed no significant elevation of GM-CSF and IL-3 at diagnosis (p > 0.5), with no significant difference between preinduction and postinduction serum levels of either (p > 0.5). Since these cytokines are known to be fundamental for the growth of AML cells, we postulate that the pretreatment levels of both GM-CSF and IL-3 could play a role in the pathogenesis of AML.

Tumor necrosis factor and human acute leukemia.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is a major regulator of AML growth in vitro and markedly enhances AML growth induced by GM-CSF/IL-3. TNF, on the other hand, suppresses the G-CSF stimulated AML cell proliferation and serves as a modulator of growth factor receptors on AML cells. It upregulates GM-CSF and IL-3 receptors by a mechanism which depends on new protein synthesis and downregulates G-CSF receptors by activation of protein kinase C (PCK). The leukemic cells from patients with acute or chronic leukemias have similar TNF receptor structures (MW 76 kD). Serum TNF levels increase in patients with both acute and chronic leukemias especially in those with advanced disease. The clinical application of TNF in association with GM-CSF or IL-3 may be of value for patients with AML.

Analysis of the TNF receptors on human leukaemia cells by affinity cross-linking.

Tumour necrosis factor (TNF) affects the growth of human leukaemic cells by different modes of action depending on the type of leukaemia involved. We have analysed the structure of TNF receptors on cells from different types of leukaemia, including acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), acute myeloblastic leukaemia (AML), chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), and chronic myelocytic leukaemia (CML) either in chronic phase (CML-CP) or blastic crisis (CML-BC). The affinity crosslinking technique showed the existence of TNF receptors on cells from all the leukaemic cases studied with similar receptor structures. The TNF receptor showed a molecular weight of 76 kD when examined by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. In conclusion, we provide evidence for existence of TNF receptors on several types of human leukaemia cells with an apparent molecular weight of 76 kD. Apparently, the discrepancy of TNF actions on the leukaemic growth are not related to the structure of TNF receptors.

Tumor necrosis factor downregulates granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor receptor expression on human acute myeloid leukemia cells and granulocytes.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibits granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF)-induced human acute myeloid leukemia (AML) growth in vitro. Incubation of blasts from three patients with AML in serum-free medium with TNF (10(3) U/ml), and subsequent binding studies using 125I-G-CSF reveal that TNF downregulates the numbers of G-CSF receptors by approximately 70%. G-CSF receptor numbers on purified blood granulocytes are also downmodulated by TNF. Downregulation of G-CSF receptor expression becomes evident within 10 min after incubation of the cells with TNF at 37 degrees C and is not associated with an apparent change of the dissociation constant (Kd). The TNF effect does not occur at 0 degrees C and cannot be induced by IL-2, IL-6, or GM-CSF. TNF probably exerts its effect through activation of protein kinase C (PKC) as the TNF effect on G-CSF receptor levels can be mimicked by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13- acetate. The PKC inhibitor Staurosporine (Sigma Chemical Co., St. Louis, MO) as well as protease inhibitors can completely prevent G-CSF receptor downmodulation. Thus, it appears TNF may act as a regulator of G-CSF receptor expression in myeloid cells and shut off G-CSF dependent hematopoiesis. The regulatory ability of TNF may explain the antagonism between TNF and G-CSF stimulation.

Tumor necrosis factor regulates the expression of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and interleukin-3 receptors on human acute myeloid leukemia cells.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) acts as a potent enhancer of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF)- and interleukin-3 (IL-3)-induced human acute myeloid leukemia (AML) growth in vitro. We have analyzed the effects of TNF alpha on the expression of GM-CSF and IL-3 receptors on AML cells. Incubation of blasts from seven patients with AML in serum-free medium with TNF (10(3) U/mL) and subsequent binding studies using 125I-GM-CSF and 125I-IL-3 show that TNF increases the specific binding of GM-CSF (30% to 280%) and IL-3 (40% to 600%) in all cases. From Scatchard plot analysis it appears that TNF upregulates (1) low-affinity GM-CSF binding sites, (2) common high-affinity IL-3/GM-CSF binding sites, and (3) unique (non-GM-CSF binding) IL-3 binding sites. The effect of TNF is dose dependent and is half maximal at a concentration of 100 U/mL, and becomes evident at 18 hours of incubation with TNF at 37 degrees C, but not at 0 degree C. The GM-CSF dose-response curve of AML-colony-forming units plateaus at a higher level in the presence of TNF, which indicates that additional numbers of cells become responsive to GM-CSF. Incubation of AML blasts with the phorbol ester 12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate or formyl-Met-Leu-Phe (protein kinase C activators) does not influence GM-CSF receptor expression, suggesting that receptor upregulation by TNF is not mediated through activation of protein kinase C. On the other hand, the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide abrogates receptor upregulation induced by TNF. In contrast to these findings in AML, TNF does not upregulate GM-CSF receptor numbers on blood granulocytes or monocytes. We conclude that TNF exerts positive effects on growth factor receptor expression of hematopoietic cells.

Common binding structure for granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor and interleukin-3 on human acute myeloid leukemia cells and monocytes.

Granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interleukin-3 (IL-3) control the proliferation of human acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells in vitro. Previously, we have shown that receptors for GM-CSF and IL-3 are often coexpressed on AML cells. Here we present experiments with purified AML blasts, normal monocytes, and granulocytes that were conducted to analyze the properties of GM-CSF and IL-3 binding proteins in more detail. On AML cells from eight cases we demonstrate two types of GM-CSF receptors: one with low affinity (dissociation constant [kd] 5.1 to 24.8 nmol/L) and one with a high affinity (kd 31 to 104 pmol/L). These AML cells also expressed high affinity receptors for IL-3 (kd 24 to 104 pmol/L). Cross-competition experiments showed that an excess concentration of nonlabeled IL-3 completely prevented the high affinity binding of radiolabled GM-CSF. This competition occurred at 37 degrees C as well as 4 degrees C. Low affinity GM-CSF binding was not affected by IL-3. Binding of radiolabeled IL-3 could be prevented by nonlabeled GM-CSF. In certain cases, this competition was complete, whereas in others only partial (49% to 77%) reduction of the radiolabeled IL-3 binding was seen. On the basis of these ligand binding features, we propose the existence of three receptor types on AML cells: (1) low affinity GM-CSF receptors that do not bind IL-3, (2) dual high affinity GM-CSF/IL-3 receptors, and (3) high affinity IL-3 receptors that do not bind GM-CSF. We could also demonstrate these receptor types on normal monocytes. In addition, a fourth type of receptor was apparent on normal granulocytes (4), incapable of binding IL-3 and with an intermediate affinity for GM-CSF (approximately 400 pmol/L). Chemical crosslinking showed that GM-CSF and IL-3 both bind to proteins with molecular weight values of 130, 105, and 75, which provides additional evidence for the existence of a common GM-CSF/IL-3 receptor complex.