Transient potential receptor melastatin-2 (Trpm2) does not influence murine MLL-AF9-driven AML leukemogenesis or invitro response to chemotherapy.

Abstract

Transient potential receptor melastatin-2 (TRPM2) is a nonselective cationic, Ca(2+)-permeable transmembrane pore that is preferentially expressed in cells of the myeloid lineage and modulates signaling pathways converging into NF-kB. This is of potential interest for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) therapy, as NF-κB signaling is emerging as a key pathway, mediating drug resistance and leukemia-initiating cell survival in AML. Inhibition of NF-κB signaling has been found to be synergistic with chemotherapy. TRPM2 is overexpressed in AML compared with normal bone marrow, with the highest levels in the FAB M3-6 subtypes. To determine the effect of TRPM2 depletions in a defined genetic model, we established MLL-AF9-driven AML on a Trpm2(-/-) genetic background. Trpm2(-/-) MLL-AF9 leukemias displayed reduced NF-κB phosphorylation as well as nuclear translocation. Invivo, primary and secondary recipients of Trpm2(-/-) MLL-AF9 leukemias exhibit increased latency compared with recipients of wild-type leukemia cells. However, the difference in latency was small and was lost in tertiary transplants. The effect of loss of Trpm2 in a BCR-ABL/NUP98-HOXA9 fusion model was even smaller. Given reports that loss or inhibition of TRPM2 enhanced killing by DNA-damaging agents in neuroblastoma, breast cancer, and prostate cancer cell lines, we exposed Trpm2(-/-) and Trpm2(wt) primary MLL-AF9 leukemias to doxorubicin, cytarabine, and etoposide, but found no difference in IC50 values. The invitro response to decitabine was also unaffected. In summary, Trpm2 does not seem toplay a major role in myeloid leukemogenesis. Additionally, loss of Trpm2 does not augment the cytotoxicity of standard AML chemotherapeutic agents.