ALBERT

Description: Journal of the American Chemical Society DOI: 10.1021/ja411563x

Description: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small, noncoding RNAs that bind and regulate target messenger RNAs (mRNAs). The let-7 family consists of twelve genes encoding nine highly conserved miRNAs that are involved in developmental timing events in multicellular organisms. Previous studies showed regulation during the fetal-to-adult transition in the erythroid lineage with significant increases in let-7 miRNAs from adult compared to umbilical cord blood reticulocytes (1). Further studies indicated that reduced expression of let-7 in adult CD34+ cells by “sponge” targeting the miRNA family seed region caused increased fetal hemoglobin (HbF), but the mean level of HbF remained less than 20% of the total hemoglobin (2). Increased expression of LIN28A (a major regulator of all let-7 miRNAs) caused greater increases in HbF (greater than 30% of the total) in cultured erythrocytes from pediatric patients with HbSS genotype (3). However, these studies did not address the potential for targeting an individual let-7 miRNA family member to regulate HbF expression. For this purpose, we initially determined the expression levels of mature let-7 family members in purified cell populations sorted from peripheral blood. The total levels of let-7 miRNAs in peripheral blood cells were as follows: reticulocytes: 1.7E+08 ± 1.0E+08 copies/ng; neutrophils: 2.0E+07 ± 1.1E+07 copies/ng; lymphocytes: 1.1E+07 ± 6.2E+06 copies/ng and monocytes: 3.5E+06 ± 2.7E+06 copies/ng. Among the individual species, let-7a was identified as a predominantly expressed let-7 family member in reticulocytes. As such, we hypothesized that specifically targeting let-7a may be sufficient to regulate HbF levels. To study the effects of let-7a miRNAs upon erythropoiesis and globin expression, a lentiviral construct that incorporated the tough decoy (TuD) design to target let-7a was compared with empty vector controls. Transductions were performed in CD34+ cells from five adult healthy volunteers cultivated ex vivo in erythropoietin-supplemented serum-free media for 21 days. Down-regulation of let-7a was confirmed by Q-RT-PCR at day 14 (control: 1.4E+07 ± 2.4E+06 copies/ng; let-7a-TuD: 1.6E+06 ± 4.6E+05 copies/ng; p=0.0003). Cell proliferation and differentiation were comparable in let-7a-TuD versus control transductions. Expression levels of globin genes were evaluated upon let-7a-TuD by Q-RT-PCR. Let-7a-TuD transductions caused significantly increased gamma-globin mRNA expression levels compared to control transductions (control: 1.2E+06 ± 6.8E+05 copies/ng; let-7a-TuD: 1.1E+07 ± 4.5E+06 copies/ng; p=0.004). HPLC analyses at the end of the culture period demonstrated robust increases in HbF levels after let-7a-TuD transduction (HbF control: 4.7 ± 0.6%; let-7a-TuD: 38.2 ± 3.8%; p=0.00003). In addition, the expression patterns of the erythroid transcription factors BCL11A, KLF1 and SOX6 were investigated. Let-7a-TuD decreased BCL11A mRNA expression levels (control: 1.7E+03 ± 4.5E+02 copies/ng; let-7a-TuD: 4.3E+02 ± 1.8E+02 copies/ng; p=0.003), but major changes in KLF1 or SOX6 were not detected. In summary, we report here that the let-7 miRNA family is differentially expressed in purified cell populations from adult human blood, and that let-7a is a predominantly expressed species in reticulocytes. Further, targeted reduction of let-7a in erythroblasts is sufficient to cause robust increases in gamma-globin mRNA expression and HbF to mean levels around 35-40% of the total hemoglobin produced. Targeting of individual let-7 genes or RNA transcripts may be useful for therapeutic induction of HbF expression in patients with sickle cell disease or other beta-hemoglobinopathies. 1) Noh SJ et al. J Transl Med. 7:98 (2009). 2) Lee YT et al. Blood. 122:1034-41 (2013). 3) Vasconcellos JF et al. Blood. 122: Abstract 313 (2013). Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Description: Globin gene expression undergoes developmental switching from embryonic (ε) through fetal (γ) to adult (δ and β) genes. Inherited mutations or deletions at the β-gene cause beta-thalassemia. One of the most propitious strategies of treatment for the disease is forced switching from mutated β-gene to unaffected fetal γ-gene expression in adult erythroid cells. Expression of globin genes is regulated by the upstream LCR enhancer. The LCR enhancer loops to globin gene promoters utilizing the LDB1/GATA-1/TAL1/LMO2 protein complex. Additionally histone-modifying enzymes play a significant role in regulation of globin gene expression. G9a methyltransferase, responsible for establishing H3K9me2 histone modification, is involved in repressing fetal and activating adult globin gene expression in mouse erythroid cells. Moreover, inhibition of G9a methyltransferase activity by the synthetic chemical compound UNC0638 activates γ- and represses β-gene expression in adult human hematopoietic precursor CD34(+) cells. Using ex vivo differentiation of primary CD34(+) adult human cells as a model system, we investigated the effect of UNC0638 on switching from β- to γ-globin gene expression, LDB1 complex occupancy and LCR/β-gene promoter looping patterns in adult erythroblast cells. Human peripheral blood CD34(+) progenitor cells from three healthy adult donors were differentiated for 21 days in a three phase serum-free media system. Based upon dose titration studies, 1µM UNC0638 was added to the medium during the most proliferative phase of culture (days 7-14) and compared to control cells grown without UNC0638. Under these conditions, a highly significant 5-fold increase in γ-globin gene expression was observed. UNC0638 treatment also caused a pronounced (3-fold) reduction in β-globin gene expression without substantial change in α-globin. At the end of the culture period, HPLC analyses also demonstrated that UNC0638 treatment resulted in a considerable increase in the cellular fetal hemoglobin (HbF / HbA + HbF: control: 2.9 +/- 1.2%; UNC0638: 30.9 +/- 2.5%, p=0.003). Chromatin immunoprecipitation and chromosome conformation capture assays were utilized to determine if the increase of fetal hemoglobin along with activation of γ-gene expression and concomitant reduction of β-gene expression were associated with epigenetic modification of the β-globin locus. UNC0638 erased H3K9me2 histone modification in the β-globin locus and caused changes in LCR looping from interaction with the β- to the γ-globin gene. Mirroring differences in looping pattern, LDB1 containing protein complex occupancy was significantly increased at the γ-globin gene and decreased at δ- and β-gene promoters. These results support a model whereby G9a establishes conditions preventing activation of γ-gene by interacting with the LCR and facilitating LCR looping with δ- and β-gene promoters and subsequent strong activation of adult globin genes expression during differentiation of adult erythroid progenitor cells. In this view, G9a inhibition represents a promising approach for treatment of β-hemoglobinopathies. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Description: Background: The neoplastic B cells of indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma (iNHL) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL) rely upon the support of non-neoplastic cells within their microenvironment for proliferation and survival. Support cells include T cells, myeloid-derived cells, and mesenchymal stromal cells, which provide phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3K)-dependent survival and growth signals for the neoplastic cells, as well as signals that maintain the tumor microenvironment (TME). Duvelisib (IPI-145) is an oral inhibitor of PI3K-δ,γ in clinical development for iNHL and CLL/SLL. To better understand the roles of the PI3K-δ and PI3K-γ isoforms in mediating signaling between the tumor and TME cells in B-cell malignancies, Infinity’s highly potent (low nM) PI3K isoform-selective compounds that target either PI3K-δ or PI3K-γ with 〉100-fold selectivity over the other PI3K isoforms were utilized in in vitro experiments. Methods/Results: A mixture of cytokines (CD40L/IL-2/IL-10) was utilized in an assay that recapitulated TME-induced malignant B-cell proliferative responses. Duvelisib inhibited CD40L/IL-2/IL-10-induced proliferation of primary CLL cells with an average IC50 in the sub-nanomolar range. The use of PI3K isoform-selective inhibitory compounds revealed these proliferative signals are PI3K-δ dependent, as the PI3K-δ-selective inhibitor was more active than the PI3K-γ-selective inhibitor. While these experiments established the direct PI3K-δ dependence of TME-derived cytokines on CLL cell proliferation, the role of PI3K-γ in key functions such as the directed migration of normal immune cells of the TME was also tested. We hypothesized that chemokines that recruit immune cells to the TME would signal through G-protein coupled receptors linked to PI3K-γ. The stromally-derived chemokine CXCL12 resulted in upregulation of phospho (p)-AKT in both the CD3+ T-cell and CLL-cell populations in CLL patient total peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Using isoform-selective inhibitors, the increase in CXCL12-induced pAKT in CD3+ T cells was found to be mediated by PI3K-γ. Interestingly, within the malignant B-cell population, the increase in CXCL12-induced pAKT was PI3K-δ dependent, suggesting that CXCL12 signals through different PI3K isoforms in these varying cell types. Chemotactic assays demonstrated reduced migration of total CLL PBMCs towards CXCL12 in the presence of combined PI3K-δ and PI3K-γ inhibition by duvelisib. Flow cytometric analyses of the migrating populations revealed that the greatest effect of duvelisib on CXCL12-induced migration occurred primarily within the T-cell population. Utilizing PI3K isoform-selective compounds, the inhibition of T-cell migration toward CXCL12 was found to be a PI3K-γ mediated process, as the PI3K-γ-selective inhibitor was more potent than the PI3K-δ-selective inhibitor in blocking T-cell migration. Myeloid-derived cells and mesenchymal stromal cells can also support CLL cell survival as components of the TME. Recent reports suggest that CLL cytoprotective nurse-like cells may have an M2 polarization and be similar to the immunosuppressive myeloid-derived suppressor cells found in some solid tumors [Gianonni et al. Haematologica 2014, 99(6)]. To model these TME components, mouse bone marrow cells were differentiated into macrophages with murine MCSF and IL-4 (M2–polarized). CXCL12-induced pAKT in these M2 cells, which express CXCR4, was more potently inhibited by duvelisib and the PI3K-γ-selective inhibitor than the PI3K-δ-selective inhibitor. Finally, co-cultures of M2 macrophages with CLL cells led to extended CLL cell survival. These data show that CXCL12 mediated-M2 activation is dependent upon PI3K-γ and that M2-cells can act to support CLL cell survival. Conclusions: T cells and myeloid cells provide a survival and proliferative advantage to malignant CLL cells within the TME. The role of PI3K-γ in the migration and activation of these cells supports the potential for therapeutic benefit from inhibition of PI3K-γ. By inhibiting both the PI3K-δ and PI3K-γ isoforms, duvelisib is uniquely positioned to inhibit key signals important in the pathogenesis of B-cell malignancies. Disclosures Peluso: Infinity Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment. Faia:Infinity Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment. Winkler:Infinity Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment. Patel:Infinity Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment. Brophy:Infinity Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment. White:Infinity Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment. Douglas:Infinity Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment. Stern:Infinity Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment. Palombella:Infinity Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment. McGovern:Infinity Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment. Kutok:Infinity Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment.

Description: LIN28 proteins bind to RNA and regulate developmental timing events in multicellular organisms, in part, by reducing cellular levels of the let-7 family of microRNAs. High-level LIN28 expression in stem cells promotes their self-renewal. Over-expression of the LIN28 proteins causes suppression of let-7 in hematopoietic stem and early progenitor cell populations (CD34+) from adult donors and manifests a more fetal-like phenotype in the erythroid lineage. Here we explore LIN28expression that is restricted to erythroid cells, rather than stem or multi-potential progenitor cells. For this purpose, lentiviral transduction vectors were produced with LIN28A expression driven by erythroid-specific gene promoter regions of the human KLF1 or SPTA1 genes, as well as an internal ribosomal entry site for puromycin selection (vectors: KLF1-LIN28A-OE and SPTA1-LIN28A-OE). Viral supernatants from these constructs were compared with empty-vector controls in matched transductions of CD34+ cells from three adult human volunteers. The cells were transduced and cultured using a three-phase, serum-free model for ex vivo erythropoiesis. Erythroblast proliferation and differentiation were comparable between control and LIN28-transduced cells assessed by cell counting and flow cytometry with staining for CD71, glycophorin A and thiazole orange. To validate restricted expression of LIN28 in the erythroid lineage, colony formation assays were performed in semisolid methylcellulose containing 1.0 ug/ml puromycin. BFU-E, CFU-GM, CFU-G, CFU-M and GEMM colonies were enumerated 14 days after plating. Puromycin addition to KLF1-LIN28A-OE and SPTA1-LIN28A-OE transductions resulted in selection of the erythroid colonies (BFU-E as a percentage of total colonies: Control: 44.6 ± 6.1%; KLF1-LIN28A-OE: 98.4 ± 0.7%, p=0.003; SPTA1-LIN28A-OE: 95.2 ± 1.1%, p=0.005). LIN28A over-expression was confirmed by RT-QPCR (KLF1-LIN28A-OE: 2.1E+05 ± 7.0E+04 copies/ng; SPTA1-LIN28A-OE: 2.2E+05 ± 8.3E+04 copies/ng; Controls: below detection limits) and Western analyses after transduction. Suppression of all let-7 miRNA family members to less than 30% control levels were detected for both vectors resulting in a reduction in total let-7 miRNA (RT-QPCR: Control: 2.0E+07 ± 9.7E+05 copies/ng; KLF1-LIN28A-OE: 5.6E+06 ± 5.6E+05 copies/ng, p=0.003; SPTA1-LIN28A-OE: 4.6E+06 ± 6.2E+05 copies/ng, p=0.003). BCL11A expression levels were also measured by RT-QPCR and Western analyses. While BCL11A showed no significant change at the mRNA level (Control: 1.2E+03 ± 4.5E+02 copies/ng; KLF1-LIN28A-OE: 2.9E+02 ± 7.4E+01 copies/ng, p=0.07; SPTA1-LIN28A-OE: 4.2E+02 ± 3.3E+02 copies/ng, p=0.07), protein analyses of nuclear BCL11A showed moderately reduced levels after KLF1-LIN28A-OE and SPTA1-LIN28A-OE transductions. Globin mRNA and protein levels were investigated and compared with controls. Gamma-globin mRNA was significantly increased in LIN28A-OE samples (Control: 3.6E+06 ± 8.2E+05 copies/ng; KLF1-LIN28A-OE: 1.9E+07 ± 1.7E+06 copies/ng, p=0.007; SPTA1-LIN28A-OE: 1.7E+07 ± 8.9E+05 copies/ng, p=0.003). Fetal hemoglobin (HbF) production was measured at the end of the culture period using High Performance Liquid Chromatography, and was increased in the KLF1-LIN28A-OE and SPTA1-LIN28A-OE samples compared to the control (Control: 7.0 ± 1.4%; KLF1-LIN28A-OE: 31.9 ± 2.7%, p=0.004; SPTA1-LIN28A-OE: 43.0 ± 6.2%, p=0.004). Flow cytometry analyses demonstrated a pan-cellular HbF distribution. In contrast to promoting self-renewal in stem cells, these data suggest that adult erythroblast-restricted LIN28 functions to partially reverse the fetal-to-adult developmental transition in hemoglobin expression. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.