BCR-ABL-mediated upregulation of PRAME is responsible for knocking down TRAIL in CML patients

Oncogene. 2011 Jan 13;30(2):223-33. doi: 10.1038/onc.2010.409. Epub 2010 Sep 13.

Abstract

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand-TNFSF10 (TRAIL), a member of the TNF-α family and a death receptor ligand, was shown to selectively kill tumor cells. Not surprisingly, TRAIL is downregulated in a variety of tumor cells, including BCR-ABL-positive leukemia. Although we know much about the molecular basis of TRAIL-mediated cell killing, the mechanism responsible for TRAIL inhibition in tumors remains elusive because (a) TRAIL can be regulated by retinoic acid (RA); (b) the tumor antigen preferentially expressed antigen of melanoma (PRAME) was shown to inhibit transcription of RA receptor target genes through the polycomb protein, enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2); and (c) we have found that TRAIL is inversely correlated with BCR-ABL in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients. Thus, we decided to investigate the association of PRAME, EZH2 and TRAIL in BCR-ABL-positive leukemia. Here, we demonstrate that PRAME, but not EZH2, is upregulated in BCR-ABL cells and is associated with the progression of disease in CML patients. There is a positive correlation between PRAME and BCR-ABL and an inverse correlation between PRAME and TRAIL in these patients. Importantly, knocking down PRAME or EZH2 by RNA interference in a BCR-ABL-positive cell line restores TRAIL expression. Moreover, there is an enrichment of EZH2 binding on the promoter region of TRAIL in a CML cell line. This binding is lost after PRAME knockdown. Finally, knocking down PRAME or EZH2, and consequently induction of TRAIL expression, enhances Imatinib sensibility. Taken together, our data reveal a novel regulatory mechanism responsible for lowering TRAIL expression and provide the basis of alternative targets for combined therapeutic strategies for CML.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / drug therapy
  • Adenocarcinoma / genetics
  • Adenocarcinoma / metabolism
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / analysis
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / metabolism*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Benzamides
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Carcinoma / drug therapy
  • Carcinoma / genetics
  • Carcinoma / metabolism
  • Cell Line
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / analysis
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Disease Progression
  • Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein
  • Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl / analysis
  • Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Imatinib Mesylate
  • Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / drug therapy
  • Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / genetics
  • Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / metabolism*
  • Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Lung Neoplasms / genetics
  • Lung Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Melanoma / drug therapy
  • Melanoma / genetics
  • Melanoma / metabolism
  • Piperazines / therapeutic use
  • Polycomb Repressive Complex 2
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Pyrimidines / therapeutic use
  • RNA Interference
  • TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand / analysis
  • TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand / genetics
  • TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand / metabolism*
  • Transcription Factors / analysis
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • Up-Regulation

Substances

  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Benzamides
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • PRAME protein, human
  • Piperazines
  • Pyrimidines
  • TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand
  • TNFSF10 protein, human
  • Transcription Factors
  • Imatinib Mesylate
  • EZH2 protein, human
  • Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein
  • Polycomb Repressive Complex 2
  • Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl