Cooperative signaling through the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 and nuclear factor-{kappa}B pathways in subtypes of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Blood. 2008 Apr 1;111(7):3701-13. doi: 10.1182/blood-2007-09-111948. Epub 2007 Dec 26.

Abstract

The activated B cell-like (ABC) subgroup of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is characterized by constitutive activation of the nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) pathway. In this study, we showed that the NF-kappaB pathway induced the expression of the cytokines interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10 in ABC DLBCL cell lines, which also have high levels of total and phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 3 protein, suggesting autocrine signaling. Using RNA interference for STAT3, we defined a gene expression signature of IL-6 and IL-10 signaling through STAT3. Based on this signature, we constructed a molecular predictor of STAT3 signaling that defined a subset of ABC DLBCL tumors with high expression of STAT3, IL-6, and/or IL-10 and their downstream targets. Although the STAT3-high and STAT3-low subsets had equivalent expression of genes that distinguish ABC DLBCL from germinal center B cell-like DLBCL, STAT3-high ABC DLBCLs had higher expression of signatures that reflected NF-kappaB activity, proliferation, and glycolysis. A small-molecule inhibitor of Janus kinase signaling, which blocked STAT3 signature expression, was toxic only for ABC DLBCL lines and synergized with an inhibitor of NF-kappaB signaling. These findings suggest that the biological interplay between the STAT3 and NF-kappaB pathways may be exploited for the treatments of a subset of ABC DLBCLs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Autocrine Communication / drug effects
  • Autocrine Communication / genetics
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic / drug effects
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic / genetics
  • Glycolysis / drug effects
  • Glycolysis / genetics
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-10 / biosynthesis
  • Interleukin-10 / genetics
  • Interleukin-6 / biosynthesis
  • Interleukin-6 / genetics
  • Janus Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Janus Kinases / genetics
  • Janus Kinases / metabolism
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / drug therapy
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / genetics
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / metabolism*
  • NF-kappa B / genetics
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism*
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • RNA Interference
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor / genetics
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Signal Transduction / genetics

Substances

  • IL10 protein, human
  • IL6 protein, human
  • Interleukin-6
  • NF-kappa B
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor
  • STAT3 protein, human
  • Interleukin-10
  • Janus Kinases