scholarly journals Imbalance of Chemokines and Cytokines in the Bone Marrow Microenvironment of Children with B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Fábio Magalhães-Gama ◽  
Marlon Wendell Athaydes Kerr ◽  
Nilberto Dias de Araújo ◽  
Hiochelson Najibe Santos Ibiapina ◽  
Juliana Costa Ferreira Neves ◽  
...  

In the hematopoietic microenvironment, leukemic cells secrete factors that imbalanced chemokine and cytokine production. However, the network of soluble immunological molecules in the bone marrow microenvironment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) remains underexplored. Herein, we evaluated the levels of the immunological molecules (CXCL8, CCL2, CXCL9, CCL5, CXCL10, IL-6, TNF, IFN-γ, IL-17A, IL-4, IL-10, and IL-2) in the bone marrow plasma of 47 recently diagnosed B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) patients during induction therapy using cytometric beads arrays. The results demonstrated that B-ALL patients showed high levels of CXCL9, CXCL10, IL-6, and IL-10 at the time of diagnosis, while at the end of induction therapy, a decrease in the levels of these immunological molecules and an increase in CCL5, IFN-γ, and IL-17A levels were observed. These findings indicate that B-ALL patients have an imbalance in chemokines and cytokines in the bone marrow microenvironment that contributes to suppressing the immune response. This immune imbalance may be associated with the presence of leukemic cells since, at the end of the induction therapy, with the elimination and reduction to residual cells, the proinflammatory profile is reestablished, characterized by an increase in the cytokines of the Th1 and Th17 profiles.

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marlon Wendell Athaydes Kerr ◽  
Fábio Magalhães-Gama ◽  
Hiochelson Najibe Santos Ibiapina ◽  
Fabíola Silva Alves Hanna ◽  
Lilyane Amorim Xabregas ◽  
...  

Different factors are used as predictors of unfavorable clinical outcomes in B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (B-ALL) patients. However, new prognostic markers are needed in order to allow treatment to be more accurate, providing better results and an improved quality of life. In the present study, we have characterized the profile of bone marrow soluble mediators as possible biomarkers for risk group stratification and minimal residual disease (MRD) detection during induction therapy. The study featured 47 newly-diagnosed B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) patients that were categorized into subgroups during induction therapy according to risk stratification at day 15 [Low Risk (LR), Low Risk increasing to High Risk (LR→HR) and High Risk (HR)] and the MRD detection on day 35 (MRD(-) and MRD(+)). Soluble immunological mediators (CXCL8, CCL2, CXCL9, CCL5, CXCL10, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF, IFN-γ, IL-17A, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10 and IL-2) were quantified by cytometric bead array and ELISA. Our findings demonstrated that increased levels of CCL5, IFN-γ and IL-2 at baseline appeared as putative candidates of good prognosis in LR and MRD(-) subgroups, while CCL2 was identified as a consistent late biomarker associated with poor prognosis, which was observed on D35 in HR and MRD(+) subgroups. Furthermore, apparently controversial data regarding IL-17A and TNF did not allow the definition of these molecules as either positive or negative biomarkers. These results contribute to the search for novel prognostic indicators, and indicate the potential of bone marrow soluble mediators in prognosis and follow-up of B-ALL patients during induction therapy.


Blood ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 122 (21) ◽  
pp. 2643-2643 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lieke C.J. van den Berk ◽  
Arian van der Veer ◽  
Marieke E. Willemse ◽  
Myrte J.G.A. Theeuwes ◽  
Mirjam W. Luijendijk ◽  
...  

Abstract Malignant cells that infiltrate the bone marrow (BM) interfere with the normal cellular behavior of supporting cells, thereby creating an alternative malignant niche. This intercellular communication is mostly mediated by cytokines and their receptors. In this study, we find that expression of the CXCR4 receptor is significantly increased in pediatric precursor B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL) cells compared with normal mononuclear hematopoietic cells derived of the bone marrow (p=0.016). Furthermore, we show that high CXCR4 expression is correlated with an unfavorable clinical outcome in BCP-ALL (5-yr CIR ±SE: 38.4% ±6.9% in CXCR4-high versus 12.0% ±4.6% in CXCR4-low expressing patients, p<0.001). Interestingly, BM serum levels of the CXCR4 ligand (CXCL12) are 2.7-fold lower (p=0.005) in samples taken at initial diagnosis of BCP-ALL compared with the levels in samples taken of non-leukemic controls. We show that induction chemotherapy restores CXCL12 levels in the BM to normal levels. Blocking the CXCR4 receptor with Plerixafor (FDA-approved drug) showed that the lower CXCL12 serum levels at initial diagnosis could not be explained by consumption by the leukemic cells, nor did we observe an altered CXCL12-production capacity of BM-MSC at this time-point. We rather observed that a very high density of leukemic cells negatively affected CXCL12 production by the BM-MSC while stimulating the secretion levels of G-CSF. These results suggest that highly proliferative leukemic cells are able to down-regulate the production of cytokines involved in homing (CXCL12), while simultaneously up-regulating the production of cytokines involved in hematopoietic mobilization (G-CSF). This disbalance may stimulate the spreading of BCP-ALL outside the BM. The data presented here suggest that interference with the CXCR4/CXCL12 axis (for instance by using Plerixafor) may be an effective way to mobilize BCP-ALL cells; the more ALL cells become mobilized, the less ALL cells may escape from combination chemotherapy. In proof-of concept studies, this hypothesis needs to be validated to pave the way for implementation in future treatment protocols for children with ALL. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (15) ◽  
pp. 8166
Author(s):  
Natalia-Del Pilar Vanegas ◽  
Paola Fernanda Ruiz-Aparicio ◽  
Gloria Inés Uribe ◽  
Adriana Linares-Ballesteros ◽  
Jean-Paul Vernot

Leukemic cell growth in the bone marrow (BM) induces a very stressful condition. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), a key component of this BM niche, are affected in several ways with unfavorable consequences on hematopoietic stem cells favoring leukemic cells. These alterations in MSC during B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) have not been fully studied. In this work, we have compared the modifications that occur in an in vitro leukemic niche (LN) with those observed in MSC isolated from B-ALL patients. MSC in this LN niche showed features of a senescence process, i.e., altered morphology, increased senescence-associated β-Galactosidase (SA-βGAL) activity, and upregulation of p53 and p21 (without p16 expression), cell-cycle arrest, reduced clonogenicity, and some moderated changes in stemness properties. Importantly, almost all of these features were found in MSC isolated from B-ALL patients. These alterations rendered B-ALL cells susceptible to the chemotherapeutic agent dexamethasone. The senescent process seems to be transient since when leukemic cells are removed, normal MSC morphology is re-established, SA-βGAL expression is diminished, and MSC are capable of re-entering cell cycle. In addition, few cells showed low γH2AX phosphorylation that was reduced to basal levels upon cultivation. The reversibility of the senescent process in MSC must impinge important biological and clinical significance depending on cell interactions in the bone marrow at different stages of disease progression in B-ALL.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marjorie C. Delahaye ◽  
Kaoutar-Insaf Salem ◽  
Jeoffrey Pelletier ◽  
Michel Aurrand-Lions ◽  
Stéphane J. C. Mancini

B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) represents the malignant counterpart of bone marrow (BM) differentiating B cells and occurs most frequently in children. While new combinations of chemotherapeutic agents have dramatically improved the prognosis for young patients, disease outcome remains poor after relapse or in adult patients. This is likely due to heterogeneity of B-ALL response to treatment which relies not only on intrinsic properties of leukemic cells, but also on extrinsic protective cues transmitted by the tumor cell microenvironment. Alternatively, leukemic cells have the capacity to shape their microenvironment towards their needs. Most knowledge on the role of protective niches has emerged from the identification of mesenchymal and endothelial cells controlling hematopoietic stem cell self-renewal or B cell differentiation. In this review, we discuss the current knowledge about B-ALL protective niches and the development of therapies targeting the crosstalk between leukemic cells and their microenvironment.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (9) ◽  
pp. 4426
Author(s):  
Erica Dander ◽  
Chiara Palmi ◽  
Giovanna D’Amico ◽  
Giovanni Cazzaniga

Genetic lesions predisposing to pediatric B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) arise in utero, generating a clinically silent pre-leukemic phase. We here reviewed the role of the surrounding bone marrow (BM) microenvironment in the persistence and transformation of pre-leukemic clones into fully leukemic cells. In this context, inflammation has been highlighted as a crucial microenvironmental stimulus able to promote genetic instability, leading to the disease manifestation. Moreover, we focused on the cross-talk between the bulk of leukemic cells with the surrounding microenvironment, which creates a “corrupted” BM malignant niche, unfavorable for healthy hematopoietic precursors. In detail, several cell subsets, including stromal, endothelial cells, osteoblasts and immune cells, composing the peculiar leukemic niche, can actively interact with B-ALL blasts. Through deregulated molecular pathways they are able to influence leukemia development, survival, chemoresistance, migratory and invasive properties. The concept that the pre-leukemic and leukemic cell survival and evolution are strictly dependent both on genetic lesions and on the external signals coming from the microenvironment paves the way to a new idea of dual targeting therapeutic strategy.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie L. Rellick ◽  
Gangqing Hu ◽  
Debra Piktel ◽  
Karen H. Martin ◽  
Werner J. Geldenhuys ◽  
...  

AbstractB-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is characterized by accumulation of immature hematopoietic cells in the bone marrow, a well-established sanctuary site for leukemic cell survival during treatment. While standard of care treatment results in remission in most patients, a small population of patients will relapse, due to the presence of minimal residual disease (MRD) consisting of dormant, chemotherapy-resistant tumor cells. To interrogate this clinically relevant population of treatment refractory cells, we developed an in vitro cell model in which human ALL cells are grown in co-culture with human derived bone marrow stromal cells or osteoblasts. Within this co-culture, tumor cells are found in suspension, lightly attached to the top of the adherent cells, or buried under the adherent cells in a population that is phase dim (PD) by light microscopy. PD cells are dormant and chemotherapy-resistant, consistent with the population of cells that underlies MRD. In the current study, we characterized the transcriptional signature of PD cells by RNA-Seq, and these data were compared to a published expression data set derived from human MRD B-cell ALL patients. Our comparative analyses revealed that the PD cell population is markedly similar to the MRD expression patterns from the primary cells isolated from patients. We further identified genes and key signaling pathways that are common between the PD tumor cells from co-culture and patient derived MRD cells as potential therapeutic targets for future studies.


Blood ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 109 (8) ◽  
pp. 3417-3423 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marina Bousquet ◽  
Cyril Broccardo ◽  
Cathy Quelen ◽  
Fabienne Meggetto ◽  
Emilienne Kuhlein ◽  
...  

Abstract We report a novel t(7;9)(q11;p13) translocation in 2 patients with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). By fluorescent in situ hybridization and 3′ rapid amplification of cDNA ends, we showed that the paired box domain of PAX5 was fused with the elastin (ELN) gene. After cloning the full-length cDNA of the chimeric gene, confocal microscopy of transfected NIH3T3 cells and Burkitt lymphoma cells (DG75) demonstrated that PAX5-ELN was localized in the nucleus. Chromatin immunoprecipitation clearly indicated that PAX5-ELN retained the capability to bind CD19 and BLK promoter sequences. To analyze the functions of the chimeric protein, HeLa cells were cotransfected with a luc-CD19 construct, pcDNA3-PAX5, and with increasing amounts of pcDNA3-PAX5-ELN. Thus, in vitro, PAX5-ELN was able to block CD19 transcription. Furthermore, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RQ-PCR) experiments showed that PAX5-ELN was able to affect the transcription of endogenous PAX5 target genes. Since PAX5 is essential for B-cell differentiation, this translocation may account for the blockage of leukemic cells at the pre–B-cell stage. The mechanism involved in this process appears to be, at least in part, through a dominant-negative effect of PAX5-ELN on the wild-type PAX5 in a setting ofPAX5 haploinsufficiency.


Leukemia ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 33 (6) ◽  
pp. 1337-1348 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martha Velázquez-Avila ◽  
Juan Carlos Balandrán ◽  
Dalia Ramírez-Ramírez ◽  
Mirella Velázquez-Avila ◽  
Antonio Sandoval ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-57
Author(s):  
E. V. Mikhailova ◽  
T. Yu. Verzhbitskaya ◽  
J. V. Roumiantseva ◽  
O. I. Illarionova ◽  
A. A. Semchenkova ◽  
...  

Minimal residual disease (MRD) monitoring by flow cytometry at the end of induction therapy is one of the key ways of a prognosis assessment in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). In B-cell precursor ALL (BCP–ALL), this method of MRD detection is complicated due to the immunophenotypic similarity between leukemic cells and normal B-cell precursors (BCPs). A decrease in intensity of induction therapy can lead to a more frequent appearance of normal BCPs in the bone marrow, which significantly complicates the MRD monitoring. Aim: to assess the incidence of normal BCPs in bone marrow on the 36th day of induction therapy with two different regimens of glucocorticoid (GC) administration according to ALL-MB 2015 protocol. This study was approved by the Independent Ethical Committee and the Academic Council of Dmitriy Rogachev National Medical Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, Immunology Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation. The study included 220 patients with BCP-ALL who were randomized to two types of GC-based induction therapy: a continuous administration of dexamethasone (n = 139) and an intermittent regimen with a 1-week dexamethasone therapy stop (n = 81). On the 36th day of induction therapy, MRD and normal BCPs were quantified in bone marrow samples by flow cytometry. On the 36th day of treatment, 43.2% of BCP(+) samples were established in the intermittent-therapy group, and 27.3% in the continuous-therapy group (p = 0.016). Comparison of the BCP level in BCP(+) samples revealed the more equitable distribution of BCPs at different developmental stages in the intermittent-therapy group, meanwhile mainly the immature BCPs in a quantity of less than 0.01% were found in the continuous-therapy group. Reduced-intensity induction therapy for patients with BCP-ALL leads to a noticeable increase of normal BCPs in bone marrow at the end of this treatment stage. A higher rate of BCP(+) bone marrow samples hinder the MRD detection due to the immunophenotypic similarity of BCPs and leukemic cells.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document