IRS1 and IRS2 function and expression in normal, myelodysplastic, and leukemia hematopoiesis

Author(s)

João Agostinho Machado Neto

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: Campinas, SP.
• Institution: Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Faculdade de Ciências Médicas
• Defense date: 2011-02-24

Examining board members

Fabíola Traina; Carla Roberta de Oliveira Carvalho; Katia Borgia Barbosa Pagnano

• Advisor: Sara Teresinha Olalla Saad; Fabíola Traina

Abstract

Acute leukemia results from a combination of mutations and changes in protein functions that confer the ability of proliferation, and defect in differentiation and apoptosis. Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are hematopoietic disorders caused by alterations in pluripotent cells, characterized by ineffective hematopoiesis and a high rate of progression towards acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Leukemia cells express a variety of receptors for growth factors and cytokines, such as Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1R). The signaling pathway is initiated by activating its receptor and subsequent activation of its substrates such as insulin receptor substrate (IRS). There is evidence that suggests an involvement of IRS proteins in hematopoeitic disease: (1) IRS1 was described as constitutively phosphorylated and associated with BCR-ABL in K562 cells, (2) the IRS1 expression was associated with a poorer prognosis in BCR-ABL positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), (3) IRS2 bind to erythropoietin receptors, (4) IRS2 expression was modulated during stimulation with erythropoietin and IGF-1 during cell differentiation in normal and leukemia hematopoietic cells. In this study, we observed the presence of the gene and protein of IRS1 and IRS2 in normal hematopoietic, leukemia, and myelodysplastic cells, however, the expression pattern of these proteins was different. In acute leukemia cell lines, IRS1 was expressed in myeloid leukemia cells (P39, K562, NB4, KG-1 e HL60) and lymphoid leukemia cells (MOLT4, Junkat, Raji e Daudi), whereas IRS2 expression was more evident in myeloid cell lines. In primary hematopoietic cells, no difference was observed in IRS1 expression between normal, MDS and AML cells, and the IRS1 expression was increased in bone marrow samples from ALL patients compared to normal controls. IRS2 expression was lower in bone marrow samples from patients with MDS, AML and ALL compared to normal controls, and the IRS2 expression was lower in high risk compared with low risk MDS patients, according to FAB and WHO classification, and number of cytopenias. The participation of IRS2 in erythroid differentiation of normal and myelodysplastic hematopoietic cells was evidenced by evaluating IRS2 expression during erythroid differentiation of progenitor cells from the bone marrow of normal donors and patients with MDS. The study demonstrated an increase in IRS2 expression during erythroid differentiation, whereas in myelodysplastic cells, IRS2 showed a smaller increase compared to normal hematopoietic cells. In BCR-ABL positive cells, IRS1 inhibition (by lentivirus-mediated shrunk specific for IRS1) resulted in inhibition of cell proliferation and clonal growth, accumulation of the cells in G0/G1 phase and reduction of cells in S phase of cell cycle. The IRS1 silencing resulted in inhibition of Akt, P70S6K and ERK phosphorylation. However, IRS1 inhibition did not modulate apoptosis; and the proteins BCL2, BAX and BAD, did not modulate the phosphorylation of BCR-ABL and CRKL, nor did they show synergism when combined with tyrosine kinase inhibitor of BCR-ABL (Imatinib). These data indicate that IRS1 participates in the proliferation and clonogenic of BCRABL positive cells by modulation of Akt, P70S6K and ERK. The findings reported herein suggest that IRS1 is expressed in normal hematopoietic, leukemia and myelodysplastic cells, highlighting its high expression in ALL cells and involvement in the BCR-ABL pathway. These data indicate that IRS1 may be a therapeutic target in ALL and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), especially in BCR-ABL positive leukemias resistant to inhibitors of tyrosine kinase activity of BCRABL. In addition, IRS2 is expressed in hematopoietic cells, highlighting its reduced expression in myelodysplastic and leukemia cells compared to normal hematopoietic cells. The reduced IRS2 expression in high risk when compared to low risk MDS and the lower increase in IRS2 expression during the erythroid differentiation of progenitor cells from MDS patients suggest that the expression of IRS2 participates in the pathophysiology of MDS and may be a prognostic marker in this disease (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 08/07397-5 - A study of the IRS1 function and expression in acute leukemias and myelodysplasias
• Grantee: João Agostinho Machado Neto
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master