miR-142 deficit in T cells during blast crisis promotes chronic myeloid leukemia immune escape

F Fang Chen (Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Department of Materials Science and Engineering) D Dandan Zhao Y Yongfang Xu Y Yi Zhang M Min-Hsuan Chen K Khyatiben V. Pathak N Nate Hansen B Brooke Lovell Y Yong Liang K Katrina Estrella W Wei-Le Wang L Lucy Ghoda R Russell Rockne X Xiwei Wu H Haris Ali J Jianhua Yu M Michael A. Caligiuri S Stephen J. Forman (City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA) J Jeff M. Trent Y Ya-Huei Kuo L Ling Li P Piotr Swiderski J Jianying Zhang M Marcin Kortylewski L Le Xuan Truong Nguyen P Patrick Pirrotte M Mark Boldin G Guido Marcucci B Bin Zhang

Abstract

Abstract We reported that an acquired miR-142 deficit transforms chronic phase (CP) chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) leukemic stem cells (LSCs) into blast crisis (BC) LSCs. Given the role of miR-142 in the development and activity of the immune system, we postulated that this deficit also promotes LSC immune escape. Herein, we report on IL-6-driven miR-142 deficit occurring in T cells during BC transformation. In CML murine models, miR-142 deficit impairs thymic differentiation of lymphoid-primed multipotent progenitors (LMPP) into T cells and prevents T cells’ metabolic reprogramming, thereby leading to loss of T cells and leukemia immune escape. Correcting miR-142 deficit with a miR-142 mimic compound (M-miR-142), alone or in combination with immune checkpoint antibodies, restores T cell number and immune activity, leading to LSC elimination and prolonged survival of BC CML murine and patient-derived xenograft models. These observations may open new therapeutic opportunities for BC CML and other myeloid malignancies.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 16, Issue 1
Published February 01, 2025
ISSN 2041-1723
Publisher Nature Portfolio

Journal Info

Nature Communications

Nature Portfolio

ISSN: 2041-1723 Open Access Life Sciences

Authors (29)

F

Fang Chen

Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Department of Materials Science and Engineering

D

Dandan Zhao

Y

Yongfang Xu

Y

Yi Zhang

M

Min-Hsuan Chen

K

Khyatiben V. Pathak

N

Nate Hansen

B

Brooke Lovell

Y

Yong Liang

K

Katrina Estrella

W

Wei-Le Wang

L

Lucy Ghoda

R

Russell Rockne

X

Xiwei Wu

H

Haris Ali

J

Jianhua Yu

M

Michael A. Caligiuri

S

Stephen J. Forman

City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA

J

Jeff M. Trent

Y

Ya-Huei Kuo

L

Ling Li

P

Piotr Swiderski

J

Jianying Zhang

M

Marcin Kortylewski

L

Le Xuan Truong Nguyen

P

Patrick Pirrotte

M

Mark Boldin

G

Guido Marcucci

B

Bin Zhang