Hyper-activation of Aurora kinase a-polo-like kinase 1-FOXM1 axis promotes chronic myeloid leukemia resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors

BACKGROUND: Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a myeloproliferative disease caused by the constitutive tyrosine kinase (TK) activity of the BCR-ABL1 fusion protein. Accordingly, TK inhibitors have drastically changed the disease prognosis. However, persistence of the transformed hematopoiesis even in patients who achieved a complete response to TK inhibitors and the disease relapse upon therapy discontinuation represent a major obstacle to CML cure.

METHODS: Thiostrepton, Danusertib and Volasertib were used to investigate the effects of FOXM1, AKA and Plk1 inhibition in K562-S and K562-R cells. Apoptotic cell death was quantified by annexin V/propidium iodide staining and flow cytometry. Quantitative reverse transcription (RT)-PCR was used to assess BCR-ABL1, FOXM1, PLK1 and AURKA expression. Protein expression and activation was assessed by Western Blotting (WB). Clonogenic assay were performed to confirm K562-R resistance to Imatinib and to evaluate cells sensitivity to the different drugs.

RESULTS: Here we proved that BCR-ABL1 TK-dependent hyper-activation of Aurora kinase A (AURKA)-Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1)-FOXM1 axis is associated with the outcome of Imatinib (IM) resistance in an experimental model (K562 cell line) and bone marrow hematopoietic cells. Notably, such a biomolecular trait was detected in the putative leukemic stem cell (LSC) compartment characterized by a CD34+ phenotype. Constitutive phosphorylation of FOXM1 associated with BCR-ABL1 TK lets FOXM1 binding with β-catenin enables β-catenin nuclear import and recruitment to T cell factor/lymphoid enhancer-binding factor (TCF/LEF) transcription complex, hence supporting leukemic cell proliferation and survival. Lastly, the inhibition of single components of AURKA-PLK1-FOXM1 axis in response to specific drugs raises the expression of growth factor/DNA damage-inducible gene a (GADD45a), a strong inhibitor of AURKA and, as so, a critical component whose induction may mediate the eradication of leukemic clone.

CONCLUSIONS: Our conclusion is that AURKA, PLK1 and FOXM1 inhibition may be considered as a promising therapeutic approach to cure CML.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2019

Erschienen:

2019

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:38

Enthalten in:

Journal of experimental & clinical cancer research : CR - 38(2019), 1 vom: 23. Mai, Seite 216

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Mancini, M [VerfasserIn]
De Santis, S [VerfasserIn]
Monaldi, C [VerfasserIn]
Bavaro, L [VerfasserIn]
Martelli, M [VerfasserIn]
Castagnetti, F [VerfasserIn]
Gugliotta, G [VerfasserIn]
Rosti, G [VerfasserIn]
Santucci, M A [VerfasserIn]
Martinelli, G [VerfasserIn]
Cavo, M [VerfasserIn]
Soverini, S [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

β-Catenin
8A1O1M485B
AURKA protein, human
Aurora Kinase A
Aurora kinase a
BCR-ABL1 fusion protein, human
BI 6727
Benzamides
Cell Cycle Proteins
Chronic myeloid leukemia
Danusertib
Drug resistance
EC 2.7.10.2
EC 2.7.11.1
FOXM1
FOXM1 protein, human
Forkhead Box Protein M1
Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl
HR4S203Y18
Imatinib Mesylate
Journal Article
M3X659D0FY
Polo-like kinase 1
Protein Kinase Inhibitors
Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
Proto-Oncogene Proteins
Pteridines
Pyrazoles
Thiostrepton

Anmerkungen:

Date Completed 25.11.2019

Date Revised 13.12.2023

published: Electronic

Citation Status MEDLINE

doi:

10.1186/s13046-019-1197-9

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM297404792