Targeting of GSK3β promotes imatinib-mediated apoptosis in quiescent CD34+ chronic myeloid leukemia progenitors, preserving normal stem cells

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Abstract

The targeting of BCR-ABL, a hybrid oncogenic tyrosine (Y) kinase, does not eradicate chronic myeloid leukemia (CML)-initiating cells. Activation of β-catenin was linked to CML leukemogenesis and drug resistance through its BCR-ABL-dependent Y phosphorylation and impaired binding to GSK3β (glycogen synthase kinase 3β). Herein, we show that GSK3β is constitutively Y216 phospho-activated and predominantly relocated to the cytoplasm in primary CML stem/ progenitor cells compared with its balanced active/inactive levels and cytosolic/ nuclear distribution in normal cells. Under cytokine support, persistent GSK3β activity and its altered subcellular localization were correlated with BCR-ABL-dependent and -independent activation of MAPK and p60- SRC/GSK3β complex formation. Specifically, GSK3β activity and nuclear import were increased by imatinib mesylate (IM), a selective ABL inhibitor, but prevented by dasatinib that targets both BCR-ABL- and cytokine-dependent MAPK/p60-SRC activity. SB216763, a specific GSK3 inhibitor, promoted an almost complete suppression of primary CML stem/progenitor cells when combined with IM, but not dasatinib, while sparing bcr-abl-negative cells. Our data indicate that GSK3 inhibition acts to prime a pro-differentiative/ apoptotic transcription program in the nucleus of IM-treated CML cells by affecting the β-catenin, cyclinD1, C-EBPα, ATF5, mTOR, and p27 levels. In conclusion, our data gain new insight in CML biology, indicating that GSK3 inhibitors may be of therapeutic value in selectively targeting leukemia-initiating cells in combination with IM but not dasatinib. © 2012 by The American Society of Hematology.

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Reddiconto, G., Toto, C., Palamà, I., De Leo, S., De Luca, E., De Matteis, S., … Coluccia, A. M. L. (2012). Targeting of GSK3β promotes imatinib-mediated apoptosis in quiescent CD34+ chronic myeloid leukemia progenitors, preserving normal stem cells. Blood, 119(10), 2335–2345. https://doi.org/10.1182/blood-2011-06-361261

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