The chimeric ubiquitin ligase SH2-U-box inhibits the growth of imatinib-sensitive and resistant CML by targeting the native and T315I-mutant BCR-ABL

Sci Rep. 2016 Jun 22:6:28352. doi: 10.1038/srep28352.

Abstract

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is characterized by constitutively active fusion protein tyrosine kinase BCR-ABL. Although the tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) against BCR-ABL, imatinib, is the first-line therapy for CML, acquired resistance almost inevitably emerges. The underlying mechanism are point mutations within the BCR-ABL gene, among which T315I is notorious because it resists to almost all currently available inhibitors. Here we took use of a previously generated chimeric ubiquitin ligase, SH2-U-box, in which SH2 from the adaptor protein Grb2 acts as a binding domain for activated BCR-ABL, while U-box from CHIP functions as an E3 ubiquitin ligase domain, so as to target the ubiquitination and degradation of both native and T315I-mutant BCR-ABL. As such, SH2-U-box significantly inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis in CML cells harboring either the wild-type or T315I-mutant BCR-ABL (K562 or K562R), with BCR-ABL-dependent signaling pathways being repressed. Moreover, SH2-U-box worked in concert with imatinib in K562 cells. Importantly, SH2-U-box-carrying lentivirus could markedly suppress the growth of K562-xenografts in nude mice or K562R-xenografts in SCID mice, as well as that of primary CML cells. Collectively, by degrading the native and T315I-mutant BCR-ABL, the chimeric ubiquitin ligase SH2-U-box may serve as a potential therapy for both imatinib-sensitive and resistant CML.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / drug effects*
  • Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl / genetics*
  • GRB2 Adaptor Protein / chemistry
  • Genetic Vectors / administration & dosage
  • Genetic Vectors / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Imatinib Mesylate / pharmacology*
  • K562 Cells
  • Lentivirus / genetics
  • Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / genetics
  • Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / therapy*
  • Mice
  • Point Mutation
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics*
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / chemistry
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
  • src Homology Domains

Substances

  • GRB2 Adaptor Protein
  • GRB2 protein, human
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Imatinib Mesylate
  • STUB1 protein, human
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
  • Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl