JAK3 pathway is constitutively active in B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Expert Rev Anticancer Ther. 2011 Jan;11(1):37-48. doi: 10.1586/era.10.203. Epub 2010 Nov 11.

Abstract

In this article, we report that primary leukemic B-cell precursors from B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients overexpress multiple JAK3-activating cytokines as well as their receptors. We also show that amplified expression of JAK3 pathway genes in B-lineage ALL is associated with steroid resistance and relapse. Our findings further demonstrate that several different diagnostic classes of B-lineage lymphoid malignancies exhibit upregulated expression of JAK3 pathway genes, which are associated with an overexpression of genes for JAK3-stimulatory cytokines with concomitant deficiency of JAK3-inhibitory signaling molecules. Thus, despite the rare occurrence of activating JAK3 mutations, JAK3 appears to be constitutively active and represents a viable molecular target in the treatment of a broad range of B-lineage lymphoid malignancies, including B-lineage ALL.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Cytokines / genetics
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Janus Kinase 3 / biosynthesis
  • Janus Kinase 3 / genetics
  • Janus Kinase 3 / metabolism*
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy / methods
  • Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / enzymology
  • Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / genetics
  • Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / metabolism*
  • Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / pathology
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / diagnosis
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / genetics
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / metabolism*
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / pathology
  • Receptors, Cytokine / genetics
  • Receptors, Cytokine / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Receptors, Cytokine
  • JAK3 protein, human
  • Janus Kinase 3