ChIP-on-chip has emerged as a powerful tool to dissect the complex network of regulatory interactions between transcription factors and their targets. However, most ChIP-on-chip analysis methods use conservative approaches aimed to minimize false-positive transcription factor targets. We present a model with improved sensitivity in detecting binding events from ChIP-on-chip data. Its application to human T-cells, followed by extensive biochemical validation, reveals that three transcription factor oncogenes, NOTCH1, MYC, and HES1, bind to several thousands target gene promoters, up to an order of magnitude increase over conventional analysis methods. Gene expression profiling upon NOTCH1 inhibition shows broad-scale functional regulation across the entire range of predicted target genes, establishing a closer link between occupancy and regulation. Finally, the increased sensitivity reveals a combinatorial regulatory program in which MYC co-binds to virtually all NOTCH1-bound promoters. Overall, these results suggest an unappreciated complexity of transcriptional regulatory networks and highlight the fundamental importance of genome-scale analysis to represent transcriptional programs.
ChIP-on-chip significance analysis reveals large-scale binding and regulation by human transcription factor oncogenes.
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View SamplesThe neural transcription factor SOX11 is overexpressed in aggressive lymphoid neoplasms mainly in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). We have recently demonstrated SOX11 tumorigenic potential in vivo by showing a significant reduction on tumor growth of SOX11-knockdown MCL cells in xenograft experiments, confirming the clinical observations that SOX11 may play an important role in the aggressive behavior of MCL (Vegliante et al., 2013). However, the specific mechanisms regulated by SOX11 that promote the oncogenic and rapid tumor growth of aggressive MCL still remain to be elucidated. To further characterize the potential oncogenic mechanisms regulated by SOX11 in MCL, we have analyzed the GEP derived from the xenograft SOX11-positive and knockdown xenograft derived tumors.
SOX11 promotes tumor angiogenesis through transcriptional regulation of PDGFA in mantle cell lymphoma.
Specimen part
View SamplesAngioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL) is an aggressive lymphoid tumor derived from malignant transformation of T follicular helper (Tfh) cells. Genetically, AITL is characterized by loss of function mutations in the Ten-Eleven Translocation 2 (TET2) epigenetic tumor suppressor and a highly recurrent mutation (p.Gly17Val, G17V) in the RHOA small GTPase gene Moreover, RHOA G17V expression in Tet2 deficient hematopoietic progenitors resulted in the specific development of lymphoid tumors resembling human AITL. Notably, inhibition of ICOS signaling impaired the growth of RHOA G17V-induced mouse lymphomas in vivo, thus providing a potential new rational approach for the treatment of AITL. Overall design: We analyzed mRNA expression profiles of primary tumor cells expressing Rhoa G17V or Rhoa wild type.
RHOA G17V Induces T Follicular Helper Cell Specification and Promotes Lymphomagenesis.
Specimen part, Subject
View SamplesGamma-secretase inhibitors (GSIs), which block the activation of NOTCH receptors, are being tested in the treatment of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). Thus far, limited antileukemic cytotoxicity and severe gastrointestinal toxicity have restricted the clinical application of these targeted drugs. Here we show that combination therapy with GSIs plus glucocorticoids can improve the antileukemic effects of GSIs and reduce their gut toxicity in vivo. Inhibition of NOTCH1 signaling in glucocorticoid-resistant T-ALL restored glucocorticoid receptor auto-up-regulation and induced apoptotic cell death through induction of BIM expression. Additionally, cotreatment with glucocorticoids induced Ccnd2 upregulation in the gut which protected mice from the intestinal secretory metaplasia typically induced by loss of NOTCH signaling. These results support a role for glucocorticoids plus GSIs in the treatment of glucocorticoid-resistant T-ALL.
Gamma-secretase inhibitors reverse glucocorticoid resistance in T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Specimen part
View SamplesGlucocorticoids are an essential component of the treatment of lymphoid malignancies and resistance to glucocorticoid therapy constitutes a prominent clinical problem in relapsed and refractory lymphoblastic leukemias. Constitutively active NOTCH signaling is involved in the pathogenesis of over 50% of T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) which harbor activating mutations in the NOTCH1 gene. Aberrant NOTCH1 signaling has been shown to protect normal thymocytes from glucocorticoid induced cell death. Here we analyzed the interaction of glucocorticoid therapy with inhibition of NOTCH signaling in the treatment of T-ALL. Gamma-secretase inhibitors (GSI), which block the activation of NOTCH receptors, amplified the transcriptional changes induced by glucocorticoid treatment, including glucocorticoid receptor autoinduction and restored sensitivity to dexamethasone in glucocorticoid-resistant T-ALL cells. Apoptosis induction upon inhibition of NOTCH signaling and activation of the glucocorticoid receptor was dependent on transcriptional upregulation of BIM and subsequent activation of the mitochondrial/intrinsic cell death pathway. Finally, we used a mouse xenograft model of T-ALL to demonstrate that combined treatment with dexamethasone and a GSI results in improved antileukemic effects in vivo. These studies provide insight in the mechanisms of glucocorticoid resistance and serve as rationale for the use of glucocorticoid and GSIs in combination in the treatment of T-ALL.
Gamma-secretase inhibitors reverse glucocorticoid resistance in T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
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View SamplesMicroRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as novel cancer genes. In particular, the 17~92 cluster of miRNAs is highly expressed in haematopoietic cancers and promotes lymphomagenesis in vivo1,2. Clinical use of these findings hinges on isolating the oncogenic activity within the 17~92 cluster and defining its relevant target genes. Here we show that miR-19 is sufficient to promote leukaemogenesis in Notch1 induced T-cell lymphoblastic leukaemia (T-ALL) in vivo. Consistent with the pathogenic importance of this interaction, we report a novel translocation targeting the 17~92 miRNA cluster coinciding with a second rearrangement that activates Notch1 in T-ALL. To identify the miR-19 targets responsible for its oncogenic action, we conducted a large-scale short-hairpin RNA (shRNA) screen for genes whose knockdown could phenocopy miR-19. Strikingly, the results of this screen were enriched for miR-19 target genes, and included Bim (Bcl2L11)1,3, AMP-activated kinase (Prkaa1), and the tumour suppressor phosphatases Pten and PP2A (Ppp2r5e). Hence, an unbiased, functional genomics approach reveals a coordinate clamp down on several regulators of PI3K-related survival signals by the leukaemogenic miR-19.
Genome-wide RNA-mediated interference screen identifies miR-19 targets in Notch-induced T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
Cell line
View SamplesThe NOTCH1 signaling pathway directly links extracellular signals with transcriptional responses in the cell nucleus and plays a critical role during T-cell development and in the pathogenesis over 50% of human T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) cases. However, little is known about the transcriptional programs activated by NOTCH1. Using an integrative systems biology approach we show that NOTCH1 controls a feed-forward loop transcriptional network that promotes cell growth. Inhibition of NOTCH1 signaling in T-ALL cells led to a reduction in cell size and elicited a gene expression signature dominated by downregulated biosynthetic pathway genes. By integrating gene expression array and ChIP-on-chip data, we show that NOTCH1 directly activates multiple biosynthetic routes and induces c-MYC gene expression. Reverse engineering of regulatory networks from expression profiles showed that NOTCH1 and c-MYC govern two directly interconnected transcriptional programs containing common target genes that together regulate the growth of primary T-ALL cells. These results identify c-MYC as an essential mediator of NOTCH1 signaling and integrate NOTCH1 activation with oncogenic signaling pathways upstream of c-MYC.
NOTCH1 directly regulates c-MYC and activates a feed-forward-loop transcriptional network promoting leukemic cell growth.
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View SamplesThe neural transcription factor SOX11 is overexpressed in aggressive lymphoid neoplasms mainly in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), but its functional role in malignant B-cells is unknown. To identify target genes transcriptionally regulated by SOX11 in malignant lymphoid cells, we have used Gene Expression Profiling (GEP) after SOX11 silencing in MCL cell lines.
SOX11 regulates PAX5 expression and blocks terminal B-cell differentiation in aggressive mantle cell lymphoma.
Specimen part, Cell line
View SamplesGain-of-function mutations in NOTCH1 are common in T-cell lymphoblastic leukemias making this receptor a promising target for drugs such as gamma-secretase inhibitors (GSI), which block a proteolytic cleavage required for NOTCH1 activation. However, the enthusiasm for these therapies has been tempered by tumor resistance and the paucity of information on the oncogenic programs regulated by oncogenic NOTCH1. Analysis of gene expression in GSI-responsive and GSI-resistant cell lines treated with Compound E identifies differential resopnses to GSI.
Mutational loss of PTEN induces resistance to NOTCH1 inhibition in T-cell leukemia.
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View SamplesGain-of-function mutations in NOTCH1 are common in T-cell lymphoblastic leukemias making this receptor a promising target for drugs such as gamma-secretase inhibitors, which block a proteolytic cleavage required for NOTCH1 activation. However, the enthusiasm for these therapies has been tempered by tumor resistance and the paucity of information on the oncogenic programs regulated by oncogenic NOTCH1. Here we show that NOTCH1 regulates PTEN expression and the activity of the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway in normal and leukemic T cells. Notch signaling and the PI3K-AKT pathway synergize in vivo in a Drosophila model of Notch-induced tumorigenesis, and mutational loss of PTEN is associated with increased glycolysis and resistance to NOTCH1 inhibition in human T-ALL. These findings identify the transcriptional regulation of PTEN and the control of cellular metabolism as key elements of the oncogenic program activated by NOTCH1 and provide the basis for the design of new therapeutic strategies for T-ALL.
Mutational loss of PTEN induces resistance to NOTCH1 inhibition in T-cell leukemia.
No sample metadata fields
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