Common Beta Chain Research Articles

E3 ubiquitin ligase RNF128 negatively regulates the IL-3/STAT5 signaling pathway by facilitating K27-linked polyubiquitination of IL-3Rα

IL-3/STAT5 signaling pathway is crucial for the development and activation of immune cells, contributing to the cellular response to infections and inflammatory stimuli. Dysregulation of the IL-3/STAT5 signaling have been associated with inflammatory and autoimmune diseases characterized by inflammatory cell infiltration and organ damage. IL-3 receptor α (IL-3Rα) specifically binds to IL-3 and initiates intracellular signaling, resulting in the phosphorylation of STAT5. However, the regulatory mechanisms of IL-3Rα remain unclear. Here, we identified the E3 ubiquitin ligase RNF128 as a negative regulator of IL-3/STAT5 signaling by targeting IL-3Rα for lysosomal degradation. RNF128 was shown to selectively bind to IL-3Rα, without interacting with the common beta chain IL-3Rβ, which shares the subunit with GM-CSF. The deficiency of Rnf128 had no effect on GM-CSF-induced phosphorylation of Stat5, but it resulted in heightened Il-3-triggered activation of Stat5 and increased transcription of the Id1, Pim1, and Cd69 genes. Furthermore, we found that RNF128 promoted the K27-linked polyubiquitination of IL-3Rα in a ligase activity-dependent manner, ultimately facilitating its degradation through the lysosomal pathway. RNF128 inhibited the activation and chemotaxis of macrophages in response to LPS stimulation, thereby attenuating excessive inflammatory responses. Collectively, these results reveal that RNF128 negatively regulates the IL-3/STAT5 signaling pathway by facilitating K27-linked polyubiquitination of IL-3Rα. This study uncovers E3 ubiquitin ligase RNF128 as a novel regulator of the IL-3/STAT5 signaling pathway, providing potential molecular targets for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.

The IL-3, IL-5, and GM-CSF common receptor beta chain mediates oncogenic activity of FLT3-ITD-positive AML

FLT3-ITD is the most predominant mutation in AML being expressed in about one-third of AML patients and is associated with a poor prognosis. Efforts to better understand FLT3-ITD downstream signaling to possibly improve therapy response are needed. We have previously described FLT3-ITD-dependent phosphorylation of CSF2RB, the common receptor beta chain of IL-3, IL-5, and GM-CSF, and therefore examined its significance for FLT3-ITD-dependent oncogenic signaling and transformation. We discovered that FLT3-ITD directly binds to CSF2RB in AML cell lines and blasts isolated from AML patients. A knockdown of CSF2RB in FLT3-ITD positive AML cell lines as well as in a xenograft model decreased STAT5 phosphorylation, attenuated cell proliferation, and sensitized to FLT3 inhibition. Bone marrow from CSF2RB-deficient mice transfected with FLT3-ITD displayed decreased colony formation capacity and delayed disease onset together with increased survival upon transplantation into lethally irradiated mice. FLT3-ITD-dependent CSF2RB phosphorylation required phosphorylation of the FLT3 juxtamembrane domain at tyrosines 589 or 591, whereas the ITD insertion site and sequence were of no relevance. Our results demonstrate that CSF2RB participates in FLT3-ITD-dependent oncogenic signaling and transformation in vitro and in vivo. Thus, CSF2RB constitutes a rational treatment target in FLT3-ITD-positive AML.

Evolution toward beta common chain receptor usage links the matrix proteins of HIV-1 and its ancestors to human erythropoietin

The HIV-1 matrix protein p17 (p17) is a pleiotropic molecule impacting on different cell types. Its interaction with many cellular proteins underlines the importance of the viral protein as a major determinant of human specific adaptation. We previously showed the proangiogenic capability of p17. Here, by integrating functional analysis and receptor binding, we identify a functional epitope that displays molecular mimicry with human erythropoietin (EPO) and promotes angiogenesis through common beta chain receptor (βCR) activation. The functional EPO-like epitope was found to be present in the matrix protein of HIV-1 ancestors SIV originated in chimpanzees (SIVcpz) and gorillas (SIVgor) but not in that of HIV-2 and its ancestor SIVsmm from sooty mangabeys. According to biological data, evolution of the EPO-like epitope showed a clear differentiation between HIV-1/SIVcpz-gor and HIV-2/SIVsmm branches, thus highlighting this epitope on p17 as a divergent signature discriminating HIV-1 and HIV-2 ancestors. P17 is known to enhance HIV-1 replication. Similarly to other βCR ligands, p17 is capable of attracting and activating HIV-1 target cells and promoting a proinflammatory microenvironment. Thus, it is tempting to speculate that acquisition of an epitope on the matrix proteins of HIV-1 ancestors capable of triggering βCR may have represented a critical step to enhance viral aggressiveness and early human-to-human SIVcpz/gor dissemination. The hypothesis that the p17/βCR interaction and βCR abnormal stimulation may also play a role in sustaining chronic activation and inflammation, thus marking the difference between HIV-1 and HIV-2 in term of pathogenicity, needs further investigation.

Attenuated hematopoietic response to granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor in patients with acquired pulmonary alveolar proteinosis

The pathogenesis of acquired pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP), a rare lung disease characterized by excessive surfactant accumulation within the alveolar space, remains obscure. Gene-targeted mice lacking the hematopoietic growth factor granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) or the signal-transducing beta-common chain of the GM-CSF receptor have impaired surfactant clearance and pulmonary pathology resembling human PAP. We therefore investigated the hematopoietic effects of GM-CSF in patients with PAP. The hematologic response of 5 infants with congenital PAP to 5 microgram/kg/d was of normal magnitude. By contrast, despite normal expression of GM-CSF receptor alpha- and beta-common chains on peripheral blood myelomonocytic cells (n = 6) and normal binding affinity of bone marrow mononuclear cells for GM-CSF (n = 3), each of the 12 patients with acquired PAP treated displayed impaired responses to GM-CSF; 5 microgram/kg/d produced only minor eosinophilia, and doses of 7.5 to 20 microgram/kg were required to induce >/=1.5-fold neutrophil increments in the 3 patients who underwent dose-escalation. However, neutrophilic responses to 5 microgram/kg granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) were normal (n = 4). In vitro, the proportion of hematopoietic progenitors responsive to GM-CSF (16.1% +/- 8.9%; P = .042) or interleukin-3 (IL-3; 19.3% +/- 7.7%; P = .063), both of which utilize the beta-common chain of the GM-CSF receptor complex, were reduced among patients with acquired PAP (n = 4) compared with normal bone marrow donor controls (47.2% +/- 25.9% and 40.9% +/- 18.6%, respectively). In the one individual who had complete resolution of lung disease during the period of study, this was temporally associated with correction of this defective in vitro response to GM-CSF and IL-3 on serial assessment. These data establish that patients with acquired PAP have an associated impaired responsiveness to GM-CSF that is potentially pathogenic in the development of their lung disease. Based on these observations, we propose a model of the pathogenesis of acquired PAP that suggests the disease arises as a consequence of an acquired clonal disorder within the hematopoietic progenitor cell compartment.

Abstract 3464: CBAP: A novel rheostat molecule for regulation of TSC GAP activity and mTORC1 signaling in cancer cells

Abstract The PI3K-mTOR signaling pathway is one of the most frequently dysregulated signaling cascades in cancer. Understanding the molecular wiring of the PI3K-mTOR signaling network and its activation in cancer will improve our understanding of their contribution to cancer pathology and provide novel therapeutic strategies by targeting this network. Our previous works demonstrated that Common receptor Beta chain Associated Protein (CBAP) is required for Jurkat cell leukemogenesis and regulates Akt-dependent TSC2 phosphorylation and lysosomal dissociation of TSC complexes, and in turn enhances mTORC1 signalling and expression of c-MYC and HIF-1a in Jurkat T-ALL leukemic cells. In this report, we tackle the question how TSC/Rheb/mTORC1 pathway is regulated by CBAP via cell-based functional assay, immunoprecipitation and in vitro GTPase assay. Our data revealed that CBAP interacted with TSC2 via tuberin-binding domain and could compete for TSC2 binding with TSC1 and suppressed the GTPase activation activity of TSC1/2 complexes. Akt could also associate with TSC2 complexes and CBAP in both Jurkat and CBAP-knockout Jurkat cells, except that TSC1 could be detected within the complexes only in the absence of CBAP. Moreover, the Rheb-GAP activity of this Akt-associated TSC2 complexes was sensitive to the presence of CBAP and TSC1/2 GAP activity was strongly suppressed by recombinant CBAP proteins in the in vitro reconstituted assay. Finally, a peptide domain of CBAP interacting with TSC2 was mapped and disruption of CBAP-TSC2 interaction by overexpressing this peptide inhibits the Akt/Rheb signal axis and suppresses leukemia cell growth. In summary, our data revealed an important role of the interaction between CBAP and TSC2 proteins in promoting Rheb/mTORC1 signaling activity, and suggested a crucial role of overexpression of CBAP protein in tumor cell proliferation. Citation Format: Jong-Young J. Yen, Yun-Jung Chiang, Wei-Ting Liao, Shih-Hao Wang, Hsin-Fang Yang-Yen. CBAP: A novel rheostat molecule for regulation of TSC GAP activity and mTORC1 signaling in cancer cells [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 3464.

PS998 JANUS KINASE AND CYTOKINE RECEPTOR MUTATIONS IN TRANSIENT ABNORMAL MYELOPOIESIS AND MYELOID LEUKEMIA IN CHILDREN WITH TRISOMY 21

Background:A preleukemic phase of Transient Abnormal Myelopoiesis (TAM) occurs in approximately 28% of neonates with Trisomy 21 (Down Syndrome; DS), driven by acquired mutations in the transcription factor GATA1, resulting in an N‐terminal truncated protein, GATA1 s. TAM can either be clinically overt or silent, and in the majority of cases the GATA1 s clone naturally disappears in the first few years of life. However, in around 10% of TAM patients the disease evolves into Myeloid Leukemia of Down Syndrome (ML‐DS) with the acquisition of additional mutations.Aims:We sought to functionally characterise mutations in JAK1, JAK2, JAK3, the thrombopoietin receptor (TPO‐R, MPL), and CSF2RB (the common beta chain utilized by the IL‐3, IL‐5 and GM‐CSF receptors) identified by whole exome and targeted resequencing in a recent study of 252 samples from 141 ML‐DS and 111 TAM patients, including 12 with samples from both the TAM and ML‐DS stages (Labuhn et al, under review). Mutations in genes involved in the JAK‐STAT signalling pathway have been recurrently identified in myeloid malignancies, and in this patient cohort were found in both TAM and ML‐DS samples, prompting the question of whether these variants contribute to the proliferative aspects of the disease.Methods:We examined the 5 mutations identified in JAK1, 12 in JAK2, 16 in JAK3, 5 in MPL and 3 in CSF2RB from this cohort in a luciferase reporter assay for STAT5 transcriptional activity, which is frequently upregulated in proliferative diseases driven by constitutive JAK signalling. Additionally, we sought to dissect the molecular mechanism leading to the constitutive activity of the novel hotspot mutation identified in the transmembrane domain of CSF2RB, A455D, using both a luciferase reporter assay and a NanoBit protein‐protein interaction assay to assess receptor chain requirements for dimerization.Results:Variants identified in the TAM stage did not drive constitutive signalling in our assays. In contrast, most of the mutations in our genes of interest from ML‐DS samples resulted in constitutive STAT5 activity. Those that did not were, for the most part, found in patients harbouring additional known oncogenic mutations. The CSF2RB A455D mutant did not require the IL3‐, IL5‐ or GM‐CSF‐R alpha chains for dimerization and constitutive activity.Summary/Conclusion:These results demonstrate the importance of functionally characterising variants, and lead us to question whether mutations found in TAM have other functions contributing to the pathology of the disease, or are merely bystanders, and why they should occur in the same genes in ML‐DS with an oncogenic result. Our examination of the novel CSF2RB A455D hotspot mutation's molecular mechanism of pathological signalling supports a model where this mutation drives CSF2RB dimerization in the absence of the alpha chain usually required for normal cytokine‐stimulated signalling.

PS999 SINGLE CELL SIGNALING PHARMACODYNAMICS IN A PHASE 1B CLINICAL TRIAL OF THE AXL INHIBITOR BEMCENTINIB IN ACUTE MYELOID LEUKEMIA AND MYELODYSPLASTIC SYNDROME

Background: A preleukemic phase of Transient Abnormal Myelopoiesis (TAM) occurs in approximately 28% of neonates with Trisomy 21 (Down Syndrome; DS), driven by acquired mutations in the transcription factor GATA1, resulting in an N-terminal truncated protein, GATA1 s. TAM can either be clinically overt or silent, and in the majority of cases the GATA1 s clone naturally disappears in the first few years of life. However, in around 10% of TAM patients the disease evolves into Myeloid Leukemia of Down Syndrome (ML-DS) with the acquisition of additional mutations. Aims: We sought to functionally characterise mutations in JAK1, JAK2, JAK3, the thrombopoietin receptor (TPO-R, MPL), and CSF2RB (the common beta chain utilized by the IL-3, IL-5 and GM-CSF receptors) identified by whole exome and targeted resequencing in a recent study of 252 samples from 141 ML-DS and 111 TAM patients, including 12 with samples from both the TAM and ML-DS stages (Labuhn et al, under review). Mutations in genes involved in the JAK-STAT signalling pathway have been recurrently identified in myeloid malignancies, and in this patient cohort were found in both TAM and ML-DS samples, prompting the question of whether these variants contribute to the proliferative aspects of the disease. Methods: We examined the 5 mutations identified in JAK1, 12 in JAK2, 16 in JAK3, 5 in MPL and 3 in CSF2RB from this cohort in a luciferase reporter assay for STAT5 transcriptional activity, which is frequently upregulated in proliferative diseases driven by constitutive JAK signalling. Additionally, we sought to dissect the molecular mechanism leading to the constitutive activity of the novel hotspot mutation identified in the transmembrane domain of CSF2RB, A455D, using both a luciferase reporter assay and a NanoBit protein-protein interaction assay to assess receptor chain requirements for dimerization. Results: Variants identified in the TAM stage did not drive constitutive signalling in our assays. In contrast, most of the mutations in our genes of interest from ML-DS samples resulted in constitutive STAT5 activity. Those that did not were, for the most part, found in patients harbouring additional known oncogenic mutations. The CSF2RB A455D mutant did not require the IL3-, IL5- or GM-CSF-R alpha chains for dimerization and constitutive activity. Summary/Conclusion: These results demonstrate the importance of functionally characterising variants, and lead us to question whether mutations found in TAM have other functions contributing to the pathology of the disease, or are merely bystanders, and why they should occur in the same genes in ML-DS with an oncogenic result. Our examination of the novel CSF2RB A455D hotspot mutation's molecular mechanism of pathological signalling supports a model where this mutation drives CSF2RB dimerization in the absence of the alpha chain usually required for normal cytokine-stimulated signalling.

Modelling the Progression of a Preleukemic Stage to Overt Leukemia in Children with Down Syndrome

Myeloid leukemia of Down syndrome (ML-DS) is a tractable human model of acute myeloid leukemia. A preleukemia phase, transient abnormal myelopoiesis (TAM) and silent TAM, occurs in 28% of neonates with Down Syndrome (Roberts et al. Blood 2013). TAM is caused by trisomy 21 and acquired mutations in GATA1 that result in a N-terminal truncated protein, GATA1s, in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) of fetal origin. ML-DS evolves from TAM by acquisition of additional genetic lesions. The nature of these lesions and the mechanism of transformation are incompletely understood.We performed exome sequencing and targeted resequencing of 141 ML-DS and 111 TAM patients to characterize the evolving mutational landscape from TAM to ML-DS. On average 1.6 acquired mutations were detected in ML-DS (in addition to GATA1 mutations), significantly more than in TAM (0.4 mutations per sample). Additional anticipated loss-of-function mutations acquired in ML-DS mainly affected cohesin components including CTCF (43% of patients), PRC2 components (13%), KANSL1 and other epigenetic regulators (14%). Conversely, anticipated gain-of-function mutations were most prevalent in signaling pathways, e.g. JAK kinases, MPL, KIT and RAS family members (40%). Importantly, we detected a novel recurrent hotspot mutation in 4% of patients (6/141 cases) in CSF2RB encoding the IL3-, IL5-, GM-CSF-receptor common beta chain. To test if the A455D/T variant in the CSF2RB transmembrane domain is a putative oncogenic driver, we ectopically expressed CSF2RBA455D in TF1 cells. Cells expressing CSF2RBA455D exhibited cytokine independent growth and STAT5 autonomous phosphorylation. In a CD34+-HSPC megakaryocytic differentiation assay, CSF2RBA455D blocked terminal megakaryocytic differentiation whilst increasing proliferation by 30-fold (P=0.046). Moreover, the median survival of NSG mice transplanted with CSF2RBA455DTF1 cells was shortened by 30 days compared to wild type TF1 cells (23 days compared to 53 days, P=0.0097).To experimentally test the potential of loss-of-function mutations to transform TAM to ML-DS, we performed an in vivo murine isogenic transplantation screen using Gata1s expressing fetal hematopoietic cells from Cas9-knockin mice. We tested variants in 22 genes, recurrently detected in ML-DS, with a pool of prevalidated gRNAs. This resulted in short latency (n=18 mice; median survival 36 days) and high penetrance (100%) leukemia. Leukemia was not detected in mice infected with control gRNAs. Leukemias had a typical ML-DS megakaryoblastic phenotype (CD117+ and CD41a+). Amplicon sequencing revealed on average 2.9 gRNAs per leukemia and high representation (61% of all leukemias) of gRNAs directed to the tumor suppressor Trp53, which was alone sufficient to induce leukemia with 100% penetrance. When excluding the Trp53 gRNA from pools, leukemic cells from moribund mice contained gRNAs against negative regulators of the RAS and JAK-STAT signaling cascade, such as Nf1, Cbl and Sh2b3 (70% of the mice), Ezh2, Asxl1, Kdm6a,Bcor and other epigenetic modifiers (85%) or Ctcf (15%), closely resembling the mutational landscape of ML-DS. In contrast to ML-DS, gRNAs targeting cohesion components, such as Rad21 and Stag2, were not present in any of the leukemias.In summary, we performed the largest genetic analysis of transforming events in ML-DS that cooperate with trisomy 21 and GATA1s and uncovered a previously undescribed activating mutation in CSR2B. We experimentally validated many of the loss-of-function mutations in a novel murine fetal leukemia assay for ML-DS. The field is now well-placed to study mechanisms of oncogenic cooperativity and identify novel therapeutic approaches for this leukemia. DisclosuresCrispino:Scholar Rock: Research Funding; Forma Therapeutics: Research Funding.

Murine eosinophil development and allergic lung eosinophilia are largely dependent on the signaling adaptor GRB2

Eosinophils are innate effector cells associated with allergic inflammation. Their development and survival is largely dependent on IL-5 and the common beta chain (βc ) of the IL-5 receptor that serves as docking site for several proteins that mediate down-stream signaling cascades including JAK/STAT, PI3 kinase, NFκB, and RAS-MAP kinase pathways. The relative contribution of these signaling pathways for eosinophil development and homeostasis in vivo are poorly understood. Here, we investigated the role of GRB2, an adaptor protein that binds to βc and other proteins and elicits the RAS-MAP kinase pathway. By using GRB2 inhibitors and inducible deletion of the Grb2 gene in mouse eosinophils we demonstrate that GRB2 plays a critical role for development of eosinophils from bone marrow precursors. Furthermore, Aspergillus fumigatus-induced allergic lung eosinophilia was significantly reduced in mice with induced genetic deletion of Grb2. Our results indicate that GRB2 is important for eosinophil development in steady-state conditions and during allergic inflammation. Based on these findings pharmacologic GRB2 inhibitors may have the potential to dampen tissue eosinophilia in various eosinophil-associated diseases.

Inheritance of IVSI-I Mutation Assures 158 (C-T) XmnI Polymorphism in Thalassemia Intermedia.

Thalassemia intermedia lies between asymptomatic β-thalassemia carrier state to severe thalassemia Major. XmnI polymorphism is one of the modifying factors of intermedia phenotype. This study intendeds to determine the frequency of Xmn-I polymorphism and its association with different beta chain mutations that would contribute towards the phenotype. 100 whole blood samples of thalassemia intermedia patients were tested for the common beta chain mutations found in Pakistan and then tested for Xmn-I polymorphism. The most common mutation identified in these patients was IVSI-5. Xmn-I polymorphism was found in 79% of the patients, 36% being homozygous and 43% being heterozygous. Xmn-I polymorphism was found in 84.7% of the samples with IVSI-5 mutation, 52.1% of Fr 8-9 , 45% of Cap+1, 85.7% of Cd30, 91.66% of HbE, and 33.3% of the samples with del619 mutation. Whereas δβ, HbS, IVSI-I showed 100% positivity for Xmn-I polymorphism. The age of start of transfusion was 3 -9 years and had high hemoglobin F levels. All the samples with IVSI-I mutation were homozygous (+/+) for Xmn-I polymorphism. Thus a firm linkage between the XmnI polymorphism and IVSI-I mutation is suggested and that IVSI-I mutation always accompany homozygosity of Xmn-I polymorphism and the coinheritance of the two mutations will lead to a milder phenotype.

Erythropoietin acts as an anti-inflammatory signal on murine mast cells

Recently it was found that the erythropoietin receptor (EpoR) is expressed on innate immune cells, such as dendritic cells and macrophages. We found that murine bone marrow-derived mast cells express the EpoR and that its expression is increased under hypoxic conditions. Interestingly, Epo stimulation of the cells did not activate signal transducer and activator of transcription molecules, nor did we find differences in the expression of typical STAT-dependent genes, the proliferation rate, and the ability to differentiate or to protect the cells from apoptosis. Instead, we demonstrate that stimulation of mast cells with Epo leads to phosphorylation of the receptor tyrosine kinase c-kit. We hypothesize that this is due to the formation of a receptor complex between the EpoR and c-kit. The common beta chain of the IL-3 receptor family, which was described as part of the tissue protective receptor (TPR) on other non-erythroid cells, however is not activated. To investigate whether the EpoR/c-kit complex has tissue protective properties, cells were treated with the Toll-like receptor ligand LPS. Combined Epo and LPS treatment downregulated the inflammatory response of the cells as detected by a decrease in IL-6 and TNF-α secretion.

Expression of CD123 (IL-3R-alpha), a Therapeutic Target of SL-401, on Myeloproliferative Neoplasms

Background: CD123 (alpha chain of the interleukin-3 receptor [IL-3RA]) heterodimerizes with CD131 (βc, common beta chain) to constitute the high-affinity receptor for IL-3. CD123 is not expressed on hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells from normal bone marrow (BM). In contrast, CD123 is highly expressed in CD34+/CD38- cells from acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients, which recapitulate the leukemic phenotype in NOD/SCID mice; CD123, therefore, is a marker for leukemic stem cells in AML (Jordan CT et al., Leukemia 2000). CD123 is also highly expressed on CD4+/56+ leukemic cells in patients with blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN), an aggressive hematodermic neoplasm. The validity of CD123 as a rational therapeutic target was illustrated by clinical efficacy data for SL-401, a biologic target therapy directed to IL-3R, in patients with BPDCN and AML, respectively (Frankel AE et al., Blood 2014 andFrankel AE et al., J Clin Oncol 31, 2013 (suppl; abstr 7029)).Objectives: To study CD123 expression as a potential therapeutic target in myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN).Methods: The study was approved by our institutional review board and patients provided written consent for sample collection. MPN diagnosis was based on WHO 2008 criteria. Surface antigen expression on hematopoietic cells of various lineages was interrogated using the 4-color multiparametric flow cytometer, FACSCaliber TM (BD Biosciences, San Jose, CA). Data analysis was performed using CellQuest Pro Software (BD Biosciences).Results: We studied a total of 21 MPN patients and 3 normal controls. Of the former, 14 patients had systemic mastocytosis (SM) (indolent SM=9, SM with associated myeloid neoplasm=4 and aggressive SM=1), 6 had primary myelofibrosis (PMF) and 1 had eosinophilic leukemia transformed to AML.Normal controls: Three normal BM samples were studied; the number of CD123 positive cells in the total population was <1%. Rare CD34+/CD38- cells were uniformly CD123-. Of the CD123+ cells, only a minor subset (<10%) coexpressed myeloid/granulocyte lineage (CD13+, CD15+ or CD16+) or monocyte/macrophage lineage (CD14+ or CD11b+) markers.Systemic mastocytosis: The data were informative for 6 patients (3 with peripheral blood [PB], 1 with BM, and 2 with paired PB and BM samples) for whom a sufficient number of mast cells (MC) were identified for immunophenotyping. Neoplastic MC were defined as CD117 hi/SSC hi/CD45 hi/CD34-/CD25+/FcεRI+. CD123 expression was seen in the majority of MC for 4 patients (#1-4, CD123 percentage positive, PB/BM): 91%/n.a. (#1), 75%/81% (#2), 84%/n.a. (#3), and 88%/n.a. (#4). In contrast, one patient (#5) had a minority of CD123+ MC (33%/28%).Clonal eosinophilia: PB was studied; the WBC differential count showed 41% leukemic blasts and 57% eosinophils (both confirmed to be clonally related based on FISH studies). Both cell populations were predominantly CD123+ (≥90%).Primary myelofibrosis: We studied PB samples from 6 PMF patients. Approximately 1-2% of circulating cells marked as CD123+; of these, expression was notable on CD34-/CD38+ cells (median 54%; range 41-74% positive). We found a larger proportion (30-50%) of CD123+ cells that coexpressed CD13+, CD16+ or CD11b+ representing monocytes, immature myeloid cells and granulocytes, as compared to normal BM controls. Studies on BM samples from PMF patients are ongoing.Conclusions: CD123 (IL-3RA) is expressed on relevant primary cells of interest in select MPNs, namely neoplastic mast cells in SM patients and eosinophils in clonal eosinophilia patients. In PMF, a minor population of circulating cells was CD123+ with a biased distribution on myeloid lineage cells as compared to normal BM samples. We are currently studying CD123 expression in additional MPN patients, and also analyzing CD123 expression on BM trephine biopsies by immunohistochemistry. In addition, the cytotoxicity assessment of SL-401 against MPN cell lines and primary cells is ongoing. Overall, the aforementioned data support the clinical development of SL-401 in patients with MPNs and clinical trials are currently being planned. DisclosuresBrooks:Stemline Therapeutics: Employment, Equity Ownership. Pardanani:Stemline Therapeutics Inc.: Research Funding.

DPP4 (CD26) Truncation Of GM-CSF and IL-3 Alters Their Signaling and Functional Activity In Normal and Leukemic Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells

DPP4 (CD26) is a dipeptidyl peptidase that functions by enzymatically cleaving the penultimate proline, alanine or select other amino acids such as serine of proteins, resulting in functional alterations of the protein. We recently published that many cytokines, chemokines and growth factors have putative DPP4 truncations sites and that DPP4 specifically was able to truncate some colony stimulating factors such as GM-CSF and IL-3 with resultant blunting of their activity. However, the mechanism of action of the truncated factors is still unknown and requires further investigation. The expression, and activity, of DPP4 is relevant in normal and malignant hematopoiesis as we have data showing that CD34+ umbilical cord blood cells (UCB) as well as Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML) patient samples express active DPP4. Further, specific inhibition of DPP4 increases homing and engraftment of both human UCB and mouse bone marrow cells after transplantation in mice indicating the therapeutic potential of DPP4 activity altering compounds. Due to its potential importance in disease states, and their subsequent treatment, it is relevant to study how the activity of DPP4 alters the functions of the molecules it cleaves, and subsequently their interactions with each other.DPP4 can cleave the penultimate proline of GM-CSF and IL-3 resulting in truncated forms which have blunted colony stimulating factor activity for hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPC). Since GM-CSF and IL-3 receptors share a common receptor beta chain, we investigated if DPP4 truncation of GM-CSF (TGM) or IL-3 (T3) could inhibit the receptor binding and functional activity of the full length (FL) alternate compound (i.e TGM inhibition of FL3 activity or T3 inhibition of FLGM activity) in the factor dependent TF-1 cell line, UCB cells and in in vivo mouse studies. We determined using TF-1 and UCB that both T3 and TGM bound to the receptors with higher affinity than their FL forms and could blunt the receptor binding of the FLGM and FL3. Additionally, TGM and T3 decreased colony formation induced by either FLGM or FL3 in both TF-1, UCB, and primary AML patient cell samples. Strikingly, this inhibition of colony formation did not require a 1:1 ratio of the full length to truncated forms of these cytokines. Rather, approximately 4-10 fold less truncated molecules could be used to efficiently inhibit the colony formation activity of the full length form, even across molecules. In vivo injection of FL, T, or a mixture of FL/T or T/T factors into DPP4 activity knockout mice followed by colony assays showed the TGM and T3 suppresed the effect of FLGM or FL3 on progenitor cell numbers per femur and diminished cycling of hematopoietic progenitor cells as detected by high specificity tritiated thymidine kill assay.Proteomic analysis of the effects of full length and truncated factors (FLGM, FL3, TGM, T3) were performed with TF-1 cells where we detected differential protein regulation by the full length vs truncated factors. After 24 hour treatment with 10ng/ml of FLGM or TGM, TF-1 cells displayed statistically significant (p < .05) differences in 26 proteins of which 17 were higher in the FL vs the T, and 9 higher in the T vs FL treated groups. These proteins included, but were not limited to, cell cycle proteins such as CDK6, HDAC6, as well as signal transduction proteins and redox control proteins such as STAM1 and Glutaredoxin. Additionally, alterations in protein phosphphorylation were detected for TF-1 cells treated for 15 or 30 min with the full length vs truncated IL-3 and GM-CSF proteins. Interestingly, the protein expression or phosphorylation levels were not always decreased by the truncated protein compared to the full length. In some cases, the truncated molecules induced an increase in the protein expression or phosphorylation.These data suggest interesting roles for full length and truncated GM-CSF and IL-3 in both normal and malignant hematopoiesis. Further investigation into the regulation of DPP4, and the roles that full length and truncated factors play during normal and malignant hematopoiesis, are important and will allow for a better understanding of the signficance of DPP4 activity during steady state, stressed, and disease hematopoiesis. Disclosures:No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

CD26 Truncation of GM-CSF and IL-3 Alters Their Functional Interactions

Abstract 1240CD26 (DPPIV) is a dipeptidyl peptidase that functions by enzymatically cleaving the penultimate proline or alanine of proteins, resulting in functional alterations. The expression and activity of CD26 is relevant in many disease states including obesity and cancer. Modulation of CD26 activity has been shown to increase homing and engraftment of both cord blood and bone marrow cells after transplant indicating the impressive therapeutic potential of CD26 activity altering compounds. Due to its importance in disease states and their subsequent treatments, it is relevant to study how the activity of CD26 alters the functions of the molecules it cleaves, and subsequently their interactions with each other.Mass spectrometry data from our laboratory has shown that CD26 can cleave the penultimate proline of GM-CSF resulting in the truncated form which has blunted signaling and function. Additional data has recently confirmed that CD26 can cleave IL-3 and results in its diminished function as well. Further, and more importantly, since GM-CSF and IL-3 are members of the IL-3 receptor family, and share a common receptor beta chain, we investigated if CD26 truncation of GM-CSF (TGM) or IL-3 (T3) could inhibit the functional activity of the full length (FL) alternate compound (i.e TGM inhibition of FL IL-3 activity or T3 inhibition of FL GM-CSF activity) in the TF-1 cell line and cord blood cells. We determined that both T3 and TGM could inhibit the colony formation induced by either FL GM-CSF or FL IL-3. This inhibition of function correlated with alterations in reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels that mimicked the truncated versions of either GM-CSF or IL-3 even in the presence of the full length molecules. Strikingly, this inhibition of colony formation did not require a 1:1 ratio of the full length to truncated. Rather, approximately 4–10 fold less truncated could be used to efficiently inhibit the colony formation activity of the full length, even across molecules. Interestingly, the ratio of T3 needed to block the full length GM-CSF (1.25ng/ml T3: 10ng/ml FL GM-CSF) was less than the amount of TGM needed to block the full length IL-3 (2.5ng/ml TGM: 10ng/ml FL IL-3) suggesting that T3 is better at blocking FL GM-CSF than TGM is at blocking FL IL-3. However, the ratios of truncated needed to block the function of self FL molecules are identical for both GM-CSF and IL-3 (1.25ng/ml truncated: 10ng/ml FL).Signaling and receptor binding studies were performed for GM-CSF with TF-1 and CD34+cord blood cells, and showed that the truncated GM-CSF inhibited the Stat-5 and JAK2 signaling of FL GM-CSF at less than a 1:1 (10ng/ml FL: 1.25 ng/ml TGM) ratio. Receptor binding studies found that TGM bound to the GM-CSF receptor more efficiently than the FL form but concentrations required to produce 50% maximum inhibition of binding (IC50) is 8-fold lower for TGM compared to FL-GM-CSF, indicating that T-GM-CSF is a better competitor for binding, than is FL-GM-CSF itself suggesting that this may be how TGM is blocking the effects of FL GM-CSF, and potentially IL-3, in our model. Finally, cells treated with TGM had diminished respiratory and glycolytic rates compared to those treated with full-length cytokine. These data provide the first evidence of relevant interactions, with functional consequences, of the importance of full length and CD26 truncated cytokines across molecules. Disclosures:Broxmeyer:CordUse: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Fate Therapeutics: Consultancy.

Therapeutic strategies for harnessing human eosinophils in allergic inflammation, hypereosinophilic disorders, and cancer.

The eosinophil is a multifunctional granulocyte best known for providing host defense against parasites. Paradoxically, eosinophils are also implicated in the pathogenesis of allergic inflammation, asthma, and hypereosinophilic syndromes. Emerging evidence also supports the potential for harnessing the cytotoxic power of eosinophils and redirecting it to kill solid tumors. Central to eosinophil physiology is interleukin-5 (IL-5) and its receptor (IL-5R) which is composed of a ligand-specific alpha chain (IL-5Rα) and the common beta chain (βc). Eosinophil activation can lead to their degranulation, resulting in rapid release of an arsenal of tissue-destructive proinflammatory mediators and cytotoxic proteins that can be both beneficial and detrimental to the host. This review discusses eosinophil immunobiology and therapeutic strategies for targeting of IL-5 and IL-5R, as well as the potential for harnessing eosinophil cytotoxicity as a tumoricide.

A comprehensive analysis of hemoglobin variants by high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)

High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is a method commonly used for the detection of hemoglobin (Hb) variants. In addition to providing precise quantitation of Hb A2 and Hb F, the reported retention time and peak shape of a high number of hemoglobin (Hb) variants are very helpful for presumptive identification. However, there is a scarcity of summarized data in the literature of the mobility of Hb variants on this method. A total of 383Hb variants were studied on the Bio-Rad Variant (™) Classic HPLC instrument. Hb variant identification used a number of methods, including confirmation by DNA sequencing in at least one case for all alpha and beta chain Hb variants. Retention time data and the number of occurrences of each Hb variant were obtained. This showed that rare Hb variants can have similar retention times to the five most common alpha or beta chain Hb variants. HPLC is a very powerful tool in the evaluation of Hb variants, particularly when combined with other methods. However, it should not be used as a stand-alone method for definitive identification of Hb variants.

Potent synergistic effect of IL-3 and TNF on matrix metalloproteinase 9 generation by human eosinophils

TNF (designated as TNF-α under previous nomenclature) is the preeminent activator of MMP-9 generation from a variety of cells including eosinophils. We have previously established that TNF strongly synergizes with IFN-γ and IL-4 for eosinophil synthesis of Th1- and Th2-type chemokines respectively. Thus, we sought to determine if TNF-induced synthesis of MMP-9 would be enhanced by the presence of Th1, Th2, or the eosinophil-associated common beta chain (βc) cytokines. Human blood eosinophils were cultured with TNF alone or in combination with either IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-3, IL-5, or GM-CSF. Concentrations and activities of MMP-9 in eosinophil culture supernates were measured by ELISA and gelatin zymography, mRNA transcription and stabilization by quantitative real-time PCR, and signaling events by immunoblotting and intracellular flow cytometric analysis. Individually, TNF, GM-CSF, or IL-3, but not IL-4 or IFN-γ, induced relatively small (<0.2ng/ml) but statistically significant quantities of MMP-9. Remarkable synergistic synthesis of MMP-9 (ng/ml levels) occurred in response to TNF plus IL-3, GM-CSF or IL-5, in the order of IL-3>GM-CSF>IL-5. Zymography revealed that eosinophils release MMP-9 in its pro-form. Eosinophil stimulation with the combination of IL-3 plus TNF led to increased steady-state levels of MMP-9 mRNA, prolonged mRNA stabilization, and enhanced activation of ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Inhibition of NF-κB, MEK kinase, or p38 MAP kinase, but not JNK signaling pathways, diminished IL-3/TNF-induced MMP-9 mRNA and protein production. Thus, the synergistic regulation of eosinophil MMP-9 by IL-3 plus TNF likely involves cooperative interaction of multiple transcription factors downstream from ERK, p38, and NF-κB activation as well as post-transcriptional regulation of MMP-9 mRNA stabilization. Our data indicate that within microenvironments rich in βc-family cytokines and TNF, eosinophils are an important source of proMMP-9 and highlight a previously unrecognized role for synergistic interaction between TNF and βc-family cytokines, particularly IL-3, for proMMP-9 synthesis.

The Editor takes a closer look at some of this month's articles

The Editor takes a closer look at some of this month's articles

GM-CSF Signaling Abnormalities in Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia

Abstract 1713 Background:Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia (CMML) and Juvenile Myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML) are classified as MDS/MPN in the WHO classification system. Despite sharing clinical and histological features, CMML is characterized by a heterogeneous collection of molecular lesions while JMML is defined by well-established molecular aberrations clustered along the RAS pathway leading directly to GM-CSF hypersensitivity; a pathognomonic characteristic of JMML. Here we test whether a molecular signature for GM-CSF hypersensitivity in JMML, determined by the pSTAT5 activation assay, is also present in CMML and whether this signature clusters within a specific CMML subgroup. Methods:Cryopreserved bone marrow aspirates from 24 patients with newly diagnosed or relapsed CMML were obtained from the Moffitt Cancer Center Tissue Repository. Cells were thawed and rested in Stem Span H3000 with 10% FBS for 2 hours and then either starved for one hour in serum-free media, serum free group (n=12), or rested in Stem Span for an additional hour, serum group (n=12), prior to stimulation with G-CSF, IL-3, or GM-CSF for 15 minutes and then fixed and permeabilized with formaldehyde and methanol, as previously described. Samples were stained with an anti-pSTAT5(Y-694) antibody and analyzed by flow cytometry (Kotecha, Cancer Cell. 2009). Cells stained with isotype-control antibody were used to establish the threshold for basal STAT5 phosphorylation. Because STAT5 was constitutively phosphorylated in serum, and to a lesser extent in serum-free conditions, inducible cytokine activation was defined as the percentage of pSTAT5 positive cells above untreated samples in both CMML and healthy controls. A retrospective chart review was performed to obtain clinical variables including age, sex, WHO classification, Dusseldorf scoring system, MD Anderson scoring system, WBC, peripheral monocyte count, blast percentage, anemia, platelet count, splenomegaly, and metaphase cytogenetics. Results:The percentage of pSTAT5 responsive cells after G-CSF stimulation with doses up to 10 ng/ml was similar in cases and normal BM controls (p=0.14), whereas, a statistically significant increase in the percentage of inducible pSTAT5 positive cells was observed with GM-CSF 0.1 ng/ml (p=0.04), GM-CSF 1 ng/ml (p=0.02), and GM-CSF 10 ng/ml (p=0.01) in CMML BM cells compared to healthy donor BM cells, as shown in Figure 1. Using one standard deviation below the mean as a cut point, only 5 patients failed to show GM-CSF hypersensitivity in the serum (n=3) and serum-free groups (n=2), respectively. IL-3 and GM-CSF play similar roles in hematopoietic growth through the activation of JAK2/STAT5 and share a common beta-chain required for signaling. Signaling mediated by GM-CSF and IL3 converge to activate RAS and other downstream intermediates that regulate DNA synthesis, cell-cycle progression and suppression of apoptosis. The concentration of IL3 required to induce STAT5 phosphorylation was 10-fold greater than GM-CSF in CMML cells, but the percentage of cells responsive to IL3 was greater in CMML cases compared to controls at 10 ng/ml (p=0.02). Analysis of the percentage of GM-CSF hypersensitive cells and clinical parameters revealed no associations with age at onset, WHO classification, Dusseldorf scoring system, MD Anderson scoring system, blast percentage, anemia, platelet count, splenomegaly, or karyotype. The percentage of pSTAT5 positive cells with GM-CSF 0.1 ng/ml positively correlated with the total leukocyte (p=0.03) and total monocyte (p=0.02) count indicating that the JAK2/STAT5 signaling response is indicative of disease burden. [Display omitted] Conclusions:Based on the threshold for cytokine stimulation and percentage of cells that display pSTAT5 induction, CMML appears to preferentially utilize GM-CSF for survival and/or expansion. Although RAS mutations were not assessed, CMML cells were preferentially sensitive to GM-CSF in newly diagnosed cases independent of cytogenetic abnormalities suggesting that JMML and CMML share biological features of GM-CSF hypersensitivity. Disclosures:Padron:KaloBios Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Research Funding. Bebbington:KaloBios Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Baer:KaloBios Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership.

Molecular characterization and expression analysis of the putative interleukin 6 receptor (IL-6Rα and glycoprotein-130) in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss): Salmonid IL-6Rα possesses a polymorphic N-terminal Ig domain with variable numbers of two repeats

Interleukin (IL)-6, the founding member of IL-6 family cytokines, plays non-redundant roles in hematopoiesis and acute phase responses. IL-6 signals via a specific private IL-6Rα and a common beta chain gp130. In this study, we have cloned both the IL-6Rα and gp130 in rainbow trout. The trout gp130 cDNA encodes 906 aa and is similar in size, extracellular domain structure (D1-D6) and presence of intracellular motifs important for signal transduction to tetrapod gp130s. The trout IL-6Rα cDNA encodes for 834 aa and is larger compared to tetrapod IL-6Rαs, as are other fish IL-6Rα molecules due to a large D1 domain. However, the cytokine-binding domain is well conserved across vertebrates, with four conserved cysteine residues in the N-terminal FNIII domain and a WSXWS motif in the C-terminal FNIII domain. Furthermore, a phylogenetic tree analysis confirmed that the reported fish IL-6Rα and gp130 molecules are orthologues to their tetrapod counterparts. The extra large D1 domain of the salmonid IL-6Rα molecules results partially from the insertions of two repetitive sequences of [TS]-[TF]-VSTTT-[ND]-TTSNG and TTVS-[AT]-IKD-[DG]-S-[KD]-N-[GR], respectively. Furthermore the numbers of repetitions of the two motifs were variable in different individuals and cell lines, and even in the same fish allelic polymorphism exists. Trout IL-6Rα was expressed at higher levels than gp130 in a number of tissues examined and the expression of both IL-6Rα and gp130 could be modulated by LPS and Poly I:C in the cell lines studied. The expression patterns of the receptors suggest that high level expression of IL-6Rα is critical for IL-6 responsiveness.