Wnt signaling mediates oncogenic synergy between Akt and Dlx5 in T-cell lymphomagenesis by enhancing cholesterol synthesis

Sci Rep. 2020 Sep 28;10(1):15837. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-72822-w.

Abstract

The Dlx5 homeobox gene was first implicated as an oncogene in a T-ALL mouse model expressing myristoylated (Myr) Akt2. Furthermore, overexpression of Dlx5 was sufficient to drive T-ALL in mice by directly activating Akt and Notch signaling. These findings implied that Akt2 cooperates with Dlx5 in T-cell lymphomagenesis. To test this hypothesis, Lck-Dlx5;Lck-MyrAkt2 transgenic mice were generated. MyrAkt2 synergized with Dlx5 to greatly accelerate and enhance the dissemination of T-lymphomagenesis. RNA-seq analysis performed on lymphomas from Lck-Dlx5;Lck-MyrAkt mice revealed upregulation of genes involved in the Wnt and cholesterol biosynthesis pathways. Combined RNA-seq and ChIP-seq analysis of lymphomas from Lck-Dlx5;Lck-MyrAkt mice demonstrated that β-catenin directly regulates genes involved in sterol regulatory element binding transcription factor 2 (Srebf2)-cholesterol synthesis. These lymphoma cells had high Lef1 levels and were highly sensitive to β-catenin and Srebf2-cholesterol synthesis inhibitors. Similarly, human T-ALL cell lines with activated NOTCH and AKT and elevated LEF1 levels were sensitive to inhibition of β-catenin and cholesterol pathways. Furthermore, LEF1 expression positively correlated with expression of genes involved in the cholesterol synthesis pathway in primary human T-ALL specimens. Together, these data suggest that targeting β-catenin and/or cholesterol biosynthesis, together with AKT, could have therapeutic efficacy in a subset of T-ALL patients.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cholesterol / biosynthesis*
  • Homeodomain Proteins / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Precursor T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / etiology*
  • Precursor T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism*
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Signal Transduction
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism*
  • Wnt Signaling Pathway*
  • beta Catenin / antagonists & inhibitors
  • beta Catenin / metabolism

Substances

  • Dlx5 protein, mouse
  • Homeodomain Proteins
  • beta Catenin
  • Cholesterol
  • Akt2 protein, mouse
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt