BCR-associated factors driving chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells proliferation ex vivo

Sci Rep. 2019 Jan 24;9(1):701. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-36853-8.

Abstract

A chronic antigenic stimulation is believed to sustain the leukemogenic development of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and most of lymphoproliferative malignancies developed from mature B cells. Reproducing a proliferative stimulation ex vivo is critical to decipher the mechanisms of leukemogenesis in these malignancies. However, functional studies of CLL cells remains limited since current ex vivo B cell receptor (BCR) stimulation protocols are not sufficient to induce the proliferation of these cells, pointing out the need of mandatory BCR co-factors in this process. Here, we investigated benefits of several BCR co-stimulatory molecules (IL-2, IL-4, IL-15, IL-21 and CD40 ligand) in multiple culture conditions. Our results demonstrated that BCR engagement (anti-IgM ligation) concomitant to CD40 ligand, IL-4 and IL-21 stimulation allowed CLL cells proliferation ex vivo. In addition, we established a proliferative advantage for ZAP70 positive CLL cells, associated to an increased phosphorylation of ZAP70/SYK and STAT6. Moreover, the use of a tri-dimensional matrix of methylcellulose and the addition of TLR9 agonists further increased this proliferative response. This ex vivo model of BCR stimulation with T-derived cytokines is a relevant and efficient model for functional studies of CLL as well as lymphoproliferative malignancies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Apoptosis
  • B-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • B-Lymphocytes / pathology*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Cell Proliferation*
  • Cohort Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / metabolism
  • Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / pathology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Phosphorylation
  • Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / metabolism*
  • STAT6 Transcription Factor / metabolism*
  • Syk Kinase / metabolism*
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • ZAP-70 Protein-Tyrosine Kinase / metabolism*

Substances

  • Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell
  • STAT6 Transcription Factor
  • STAT6 protein, human
  • SYK protein, human
  • Syk Kinase
  • ZAP-70 Protein-Tyrosine Kinase
  • ZAP70 protein, human