Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is characterized by a dysregulated expansion of poorly differentiated myeloid cells. Although patients are usually treated effectively by chemotherapy, a high rate of relapsed or refractory disease poses a major hurdle in its treatment. Recently, several studies have proposed implications of protein glycosylation in the pathobiology of AML including chemoresistance. Accordingly, associations have been found between specific glycan epitopes and the outcome of the disease. To advance this poorly studied field, we performed an exploratory glycomics study characterizing 21 widely used AML cell lines. Exploiting the benefits of porous graphitized carbon chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (PGC nano-LC-MS2), we qualitatively and quantitatively profiled N- and O-linked glycans. AML cell lines exhibited distinct glycan fingerprints differing in relevant glycan traits correlating with their cellular phenotype as classified by the FAB system. By implementing transcriptomics data, specific glycosyltransferases and hematopoietic transcription factors were identified, which are candidate drivers of the glycan phenotype of these cells. In conclusion, we report the varying expression of glycan structures across a high number of AML cell lines, including those associated with poor prognosis, identified underlying glycosyltransferases and transcription factors, and provide insights into the regulation of the AML glycan repertoire.
Highlights
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a genetically heterogeneous disease characterized by clonal expansion of irregularly differentiated cells of the myeloid lineage termed blasts [1]
Based on a principal component analysis (PCA), we identified a strong association between the glycomic fingerprint of AML cells and their phenotypic and cytochemical characteristics as classified by the FAB system
Some sialic acid linkages of more complex multisialylated glycans could be assigned based on matching retention times with well-studied glycans of fetuin that was measured alongside AML glycans [44]
Summary
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a genetically heterogeneous disease characterized by clonal expansion of irregularly differentiated cells of the myeloid lineage termed blasts [1]. It is the most common type of acute leukemia with a median age of 68 years at diagnosis [2,3]. The classification of AML is of high importance for risk assessment, choice of treatment, and general stratification of the disease [4]. Classification, which is predominantly based on the morphological appearance of leukemic blasts as well as their cytochemical characteristics [5]. This classification system defines eight major subtypes specified as M0 to M7.
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