Defining the molecular basis of oncogenic cooperation between TAL1 expression and Pten deletion in T-ALL using a novel pro-T-cell model system

Leukemia. 2018 Apr;32(4):941-951. doi: 10.1038/leu.2017.328. Epub 2017 Nov 20.

Abstract

T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is caused by the accumulation of multiple mutations combined with the ectopic expression of transcription factors in developing T cells. However, the molecular basis underlying cooperation between transcription factor expression and additional oncogenic mutations in driving T-ALL has been difficult to assess due to limited robust T-cell model systems. Here we utilize a new ex vivo pro-T-cell model to study oncogenic cooperation. Using a systems biological approach we first dissect the pro-T-cell signaling network driven by interleukin-7, stem cell factor and Notch1 and identify key downstream Akt, Stat, E2f and Myc genetic signaling networks. Next, this pro-T-cell system was used to demonstrate that ectopic expression of the TAL1 transcription factor and Pten deletion are bona-fide cooperating events resulting in an increased stem cell signature, upregulation of a specific E2f signaling network and metabolic reprogramming with higher influx of glucose carbons into the tricarboxylic acid cycle. This ex vivo pro-T-cell system thereby provides a powerful new model system to investigate how normal T-cell signaling networks are perturbed and/or hijacked by different oncogenic events found in T-ALL.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carcinogenesis / genetics
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Mutation / genetics
  • Oncogenes / genetics*
  • PTEN Phosphohydrolase / genetics*
  • PTEN Phosphohydrolase / metabolism
  • Precursor T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / genetics*
  • Sequence Deletion / genetics*
  • Signal Transduction / genetics
  • Stem Cells / metabolism
  • T-Cell Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia Protein 1 / genetics*
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism*
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Up-Regulation / genetics

Substances

  • T-Cell Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia Protein 1
  • Tal1 protein, mouse
  • Transcription Factors
  • PTEN Phosphohydrolase
  • Pten protein, mouse