Myeloproliferative neoplasms are divided into essential thrombocythemia (ET), polycythemia vera (PV) and primary myelofibrosis (PMF). Although ruxolitinib was proven to be effective in reducing symptoms, patients rarely achieve complete molecular remission. Therefore, it is relevant to identify new therapeutic targets to improve the clinical outcome of patients. Bcl-xL protein, the long isoform encoded by alternative splicing of the Bcl-x gene, acts as an anti-apoptotic regulator. Our study investigated the role of Bcl-xL as a marker of severity of MPN and the possibility to target Bcl-xL in patients. 129 MPN patients and 21 healthy patients were enrolled in the study. We analysed Bcl-xL expression in leucocytes and in enriched CD34+ and CD235a+ cells. Furthermore, ABT-737, a Bcl-xL inhibitor, was tested in HEL cells and in leucocytes from MPN patients. Bcl-xL was found progressively over-expressed in cells from ET, PV and PMF patients, independently by JAK2 mutational status. Moreover, our data indicated that the combination of ABT-737 and ruxolitinib resulted in a significantly higher apoptotic rate than the individual drug. Our study suggests that Bcl-xL plays an important role in MPN independently from JAK2 V617F mutation. Furthermore, data demonstrate that targeting simultaneously JAK2 and Bcl-xL might represent an interesting new approach.

Bcl-xL represents a therapeutic target in Philadelphia negative myeloproliferative neoplasms

Petiti J.
Co-first
;
Lo Iacono M.
Co-first
;
Rosso V.;Andreani G.;Jovanovski A.;Gobbi M. D.;Fava C.;Saglio G.;Frassoni F.
Co-last
;
Cilloni D.
Co-last
2020-01-01

Abstract

Myeloproliferative neoplasms are divided into essential thrombocythemia (ET), polycythemia vera (PV) and primary myelofibrosis (PMF). Although ruxolitinib was proven to be effective in reducing symptoms, patients rarely achieve complete molecular remission. Therefore, it is relevant to identify new therapeutic targets to improve the clinical outcome of patients. Bcl-xL protein, the long isoform encoded by alternative splicing of the Bcl-x gene, acts as an anti-apoptotic regulator. Our study investigated the role of Bcl-xL as a marker of severity of MPN and the possibility to target Bcl-xL in patients. 129 MPN patients and 21 healthy patients were enrolled in the study. We analysed Bcl-xL expression in leucocytes and in enriched CD34+ and CD235a+ cells. Furthermore, ABT-737, a Bcl-xL inhibitor, was tested in HEL cells and in leucocytes from MPN patients. Bcl-xL was found progressively over-expressed in cells from ET, PV and PMF patients, independently by JAK2 mutational status. Moreover, our data indicated that the combination of ABT-737 and ruxolitinib resulted in a significantly higher apoptotic rate than the individual drug. Our study suggests that Bcl-xL plays an important role in MPN independently from JAK2 V617F mutation. Furthermore, data demonstrate that targeting simultaneously JAK2 and Bcl-xL might represent an interesting new approach.
2020
24
18
10978
10986
ABT-737; Bcl-xL; myeloproliferative neoplasms; therapeutic target
Petiti J.; Lo Iacono M.; Rosso V.; Andreani G.; Jovanovski A.; Podesta M.; Lame D.; Gobbi M.D.; Fava C.; Saglio G.; Frassoni F.; Cilloni D.
File in questo prodotto:
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2318/1751766
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 7
  • Scopus 22
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 20
social impact