2015 Aug;100(8):1076-85. doi: 10.3324/haematol.2014.115170. Epub 2015 Apr 3.

Author information

1
School of Cancer Sciences, University of Birmingham.
2
School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham.
3
School of Cancer Sciences, University of Birmingham Haematology Department, Birmingham Heartlands Hospital.
4
Haematology Department, Birmingham Heartlands Hospital.
5
Haematology Department, Royal Bournemouth Hospital, Dorset.
6
Department of Haematology, Institute of Cancer and Genetics, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff.
7
Medical Research Institute, University of Dundee, UK.
8
School of Cancer Sciences, University of Birmingham t.stankovic@bham.ac.uk.

Abstract

Inactivation of the Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated gene in chronic lymphocytic leukemia results in resistance to p53-dependent apoptosis and inferior responses to treatment with DNA damaging agents. Hence, p53-independent strategies are required to target Ataxia TelangiectasiaMutated-deficient chronic lymphocytic leukemia. As Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated has been implicated in redox homeostasis, we investigated the effect of the Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated-null chronic lymphocytic leukemia genotype on cellular responses to oxidative stress with a view to therapeutic targeting. We found that in comparison to Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated-wild type chronic lymphocytic leukemia, pro-oxidant treatment of Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated-null cells led to reduced binding of NF-E2 p45-related factor-2 to antioxidant response elements and thus decreased expression of target genes. Furthermore, Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated-null chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells contained lower levels of antioxidants and elevated mitochondrial reactive oxygen species. Consequently, Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated-null chronic lymphocytic leukemia, but not tumors with 11q deletion or TP53 mutations, exhibited differentially increased sensitivity to pro-oxidants both in vitro and in vivo. We found that cell death was mediated by a p53- and caspase-independent mechanism associated with apoptosis inducing factor activity. Together, these data suggest that defective redox-homeostasis represents an attractive therapeutic target for Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated-null chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

PMID:
 
25840602
 
PMCID:
 
PMC5004424
 
DOI:
 
10.3324/haematol.2014.115170
[Indexed for MEDLINE] 
Free PMC Article