Oncogenic deubiquitination controls tyrosine kinase signaling and therapy response in acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Sci Adv. 2022 Dec 9;8(49):eabq8437. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.abq8437. Epub 2022 Dec 9.

Abstract

Dysregulation of kinase signaling pathways favors tumor cell survival and therapy resistance in cancer. Here, we reveal a posttranslational regulation of kinase signaling and nuclear receptor activity via deubiquitination in T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). We observed that the ubiquitin-specific protease 11 (USP11) is highly expressed and associates with poor prognosis in T-ALL. USP11 ablation inhibits leukemia progression in vivo, sparing normal hematopoiesis. USP11 forms a complex with USP7 to deubiquitinate the oncogenic lymphocyte cell-specific protein-tyrosine kinase (LCK) and enhance its activity. Impairment of LCK activity leads to increased glucocorticoid receptor (GR) expression and glucocorticoids sensitivity. Genetic knockout of USP7 improved the antileukemic efficacy of glucocorticoids in vivo. The transcriptional activation of GR target genes is orchestrated by the deubiquitinase activity and mediated via an increase in enhancer-promoter interaction intensity. Our data unveil how dysregulated deubiquitination controls leukemia survival and drug resistance, suggesting previously unidentified therapeutic combinations toward targeting leukemia.

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Glucocorticoids / pharmacology
  • Glucocorticoids / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Lymphocyte Specific Protein Tyrosine Kinase p56(lck) / metabolism
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma* / drug therapy
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma* / genetics
  • Receptors, Glucocorticoid / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • Thiolester Hydrolases / metabolism
  • Thiolester Hydrolases / therapeutic use
  • Ubiquitin-Specific Peptidase 7 / metabolism

Substances

  • Glucocorticoids
  • Lymphocyte Specific Protein Tyrosine Kinase p56(lck)
  • Receptors, Glucocorticoid
  • Thiolester Hydrolases
  • Ubiquitin-Specific Peptidase 7
  • USP11 protein, human
  • USP7 protein, human