T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia displays autocrine production of Interleukin-7

Oncogene. 2019 Nov;38(48):7357-7365. doi: 10.1038/s41388-019-0921-4. Epub 2019 Aug 15.

Abstract

T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is an aggressive hematological malignancy characterized by an accumulation of immature T cells. Although patient outcomes have improved, novel targeted therapies are needed to reduce the intensity of chemotherapy and improve the prognosis of high-risk patients. Interleukin-7 (IL-7) modulates the survival and proliferation of normal and malignant T cells. Targeting the IL-7 signaling pathway is thus a potentially effective therapeutic strategy. To achieve such aim, it is essential to first understand how the IL-7 signaling pathway is activated. Although IL-7 production has been observed from multiple stromal tissues, T-ALL autocrine IL-7 secretion has not yet been described. Interestingly, using T-ALL cell lines, primary and patient-derived xenotransplanted (PDX) T-ALL cells, we demonstrate that T-ALL cells produce IL-7 whereas normal T cells do not. Finally, using knock down of IL7 gene in T-ALL cells, we describe to what extent IL-7 autocrine secretion is involved in the T-ALL cells propagation in bone marrow and how it affects the number of leukemia-initiating cells in PDX mice. Together, these results demonstrate how the autocrine production of the IL-7 cytokine mediated by T-ALL cells can be involved in the oncogenic development of T-ALL and offer novel insights into T-ALL spreading.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis
  • Autocrine Communication*
  • Bone Marrow / immunology*
  • Bone Marrow / metabolism
  • Bone Marrow / pathology
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-7 / biosynthesis*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred NOD
  • Mice, SCID
  • Precursor T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / immunology
  • Precursor T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / metabolism*
  • Precursor T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / pathology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocytes / pathology
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • IL7 protein, human
  • Interleukin-7