The bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) pathway regulates the fate and proliferation of normal hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) as well as interactions with their niche. While BMP2 and BMP4 promote HSC differentiation, only BMP4 maintains HSC pool and favors interactions with their niche. In myeloid leukemia, we have identified intrinsic and extrinsic dysregulations of the BMP pathway in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) and Acute Myeloid leukemia (AML) responsible for leukemic stem cells (LSC) survival. In AML, BMP pathway alterations sustain and promote resistant immature-like leukemic cells by activating a new signaling cascade. Binding of BMP4 to BMPR1A leads to ΔNp73 expression, which in turn induces NANOG, altogether associated with a poor patient's prognosis. Despite efficient targeted therapies, like Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (TKI) in CML, many patients retain LSCs. Our laboratory demonstrated that the BMP pathway sustains a permanent pool of LSCs expressing high levels of BMPR1B receptor, that evolve upon treatment to progressively implement a BMP4 autocrine loop, leading to TKI-resistant cells. Single cell RNA-Seq analysis of TKI-persisting LSCs showed a co-enrichment of BMP with Jak2-signaling, quiescence and stem cell (SC) signatures. Using a new model of persisting LSCs, we recently demonstrated that BMPR1B+ cells display co-activated Smad1/5/8 and Stat3 pathways and could be targeted by blocking BMPR1B/Jak2 signal. Lastly, a specific BMPR1B inhibitor impaired BMP4-mediated LSC protection against TKIs. Altogether, data based on various studies including ours, indicate that BMP targeting could eliminate leukemic cells within a protective bone marrow microenvironment to efficiently impact residual resistance or persistence of LSCs in myeloid leukemia.
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Cover Image
Cover Image
The cover shows a metaphorical representation of the anti-CRISPR AcrIIA6, represented as handcuffs, sequestering two Streptococcus thermophilus CRISPR1-Cas9 (St1Cas9) molecules at a time and preventing conformational changes associated with DNA recognition and binding. In the absence of AcrIIA6, St1Cas9 tightly binds to its target DNA, and can proceed to target cleavage. For further information, see the article by Hardouin and Goulet in this issue (pp. 507–516). This cover artwork has been made by Beata Edyta Mierzwa (www.BeataScienceArt.com).
Targeting BMP signaling in the bone marrow microenvironment of myeloid leukemia
Sylvain Lefort, Véronique Maguer-Satta; Targeting BMP signaling in the bone marrow microenvironment of myeloid leukemia. Biochem Soc Trans 29 April 2020; 48 (2): 411–418. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/BST20190223
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