A B-cell developmental gene regulatory network is activated in infant AML

PLoS One. 2021 Nov 18;16(11):e0259197. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0259197. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

Infant Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) is a poorly-addressed, heterogeneous malignancy distinguished by surprisingly few mutations per patient but accompanied by myriad age-specific translocations. These characteristics make treatment of infant AML challenging. While infant AML is a relatively rare disease, it has enormous impact on families, and in terms of life-years-lost and life limiting morbidities. To better understand the mechanisms that drive infant AML, we performed integrative analyses of genome-wide mRNA, miRNA, and DNA-methylation data in diagnosis-stage patient samples. Here, we report the activation of an onco-fetal B-cell developmental gene regulatory network in infant AML. AML in infants is genomically distinct from AML in older children/adults in that it has more structural genomic aberrations and fewer mutations. Differential expression analysis of ~1500 pediatric AML samples revealed a large number of infant-specific genes, many of which are associated with B cell development and function. 18 of these genes form a well-studied B-cell gene regulatory network that includes the epigenetic regulators BRD4 and POU2AF1, and their onco-fetal targets LIN28B and IGF2BP3. All four genes are hypo-methylated in infant AML. Moreover, micro-RNA Let7a-2 is expressed in a mutually exclusive manner with its target and regulator LIN28B. These findings suggest infant AML may respond to bromodomain inhibitors and immune therapies targeting CD19, CD20, CD22, and CD79A.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • B-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • B-Lymphocytes / metabolism*
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / genetics
  • DNA Methylation
  • Gene Regulatory Networks / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / diagnosis*
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / genetics
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • Trans-Activators / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Up-Regulation

Substances

  • BRD4 protein, human
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • LIN28B protein, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • POU2AF1 protein, human
  • RNA, Messenger
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • Trans-Activators
  • Transcription Factors