IL-2 and IL-15 blockade by BNZ-1, an inhibitor of selective γ-chain cytokines, decreases leukemic T-cell viability

Leukemia. 2019 May;33(5):1243-1255. doi: 10.1038/s41375-018-0290-y. Epub 2018 Oct 23.

Abstract

Interleukin-15 (IL-15) and IL-2 drive T-cell malignancies including T-cell large granular lymphocyte leukemia (T-LGLL) and HTLV-1 driven adult T-cell leukemia (ATL). Both cytokines share common γ-chain receptors and downstream signaling pathways. T-LGLL is characterized by clonal expansion of cytotoxic T cells and is associated with abnormal JAK/STAT signaling. ATL is an aggressive CD4+ T-cell neoplasm associated with HTLV-1. T-LGLL and ATL share dependence on IL-2 and IL-15 for survival and both diseases lack effective therapies. BNZ-1 is a pegylated peptide designed to specifically bind the γc receptor to selectively block IL-2, IL-15, and IL-9 signaling. We hypothesized that treatment with BNZ-1 would reduce cytokine-mediated proliferation and viability. Our results demonstrated that in vitro treatment of a T-LGLL cell line and ex vivo treatment of T-LGLL patient cells with BNZ-1 inhibited cytokine-mediated viability. Furthermore, BNZ-1 blocked downstream signaling and increased apoptosis. These results were mirrored in an ATL cell line and in ex vivo ATL patient cells. Lastly, BNZ-1 drastically reduced leukemic burden in an IL-15-driven human ATL mouse xenograft model. Thus, BNZ-1 shows great promise as a novel therapy for T-LGLL, ATL, and other IL-2 or IL-15 driven hematopoietic malignancies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Annexin A5 / metabolism
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Benzodiazepines / pharmacology*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / drug effects*
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-15 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Interleukin-2 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Janus Kinases / metabolism
  • Leukemia, T-Cell / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Phosphorylation
  • STAT Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects

Substances

  • 7-chloro-4-(cyclohexylmethyl)-1-methyl-3,4-dihydro-1H-1,4-benzodiazepine-2,5-dione
  • Annexin A5
  • Cytokines
  • Interleukin-15
  • Interleukin-2
  • STAT Transcription Factors
  • Benzodiazepines
  • Janus Kinases