Histone deacetylase-targeted treatment restores retinoic acid signaling and differentiation in acute myeloid leukemia

Cancer Res. 2001 Jan 1;61(1):2-7.

Abstract

Histone deacetylase (HDAC)-dependent transcriptional repression of the retinoic acid (RA)-signaling pathway underlies the differentiation block of acute promyelocytic leukemia. RA treatment relieves transcriptional repression and triggers differentiation of acute promyelocytic leukemia blasts, leading to disease remission. We report that transcriptional repression of RA signaling is a common mechanism in acute myeloid leukemias (AMLs). HDAC inhibitors restored RA-dependent transcriptional activation and triggered terminal differentiation of primary blasts from 23 AML patients. Accordingly, we show that AML1/ETO, the commonest AML-associated fusion protein, is an HDAC-dependent repressor of RA signaling. These findings relate alteration of the RA pathway to myeloid leukemogenesis and underscore the potential of transcriptional/differentiation therapy in AML.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetylation
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cell Differentiation / drug effects
  • Cell Differentiation / physiology
  • Core Binding Factor Alpha 2 Subunit
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic / drug effects
  • Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors*
  • Histone Deacetylases / physiology
  • Histones / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Hydroxamic Acids / pharmacology
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / enzymology*
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / genetics
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / pathology*
  • Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Acute / enzymology*
  • Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Acute / genetics
  • Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Acute / pathology*
  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / biosynthesis
  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / genetics
  • RUNX1 Translocation Partner 1 Protein
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects*
  • Signal Transduction / physiology
  • Transcription Factors / biosynthesis
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcriptional Activation / drug effects
  • Transcriptional Activation / physiology
  • Tretinoin / pharmacology*
  • Tretinoin / physiology
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • AML1-ETO fusion protein, human
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Core Binding Factor Alpha 2 Subunit
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors
  • Histones
  • Hydroxamic Acids
  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion
  • RUNX1 Translocation Partner 1 Protein
  • Transcription Factors
  • trichostatin A
  • Tretinoin
  • Histone Deacetylases