published version. cancers-14-01600.pdf (1.98 MB)
Elucidation of focal adhesion kinase as a modulator of migration and invasion and as a potential therapeutic target in chronic lymphocytic leukemia
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-10, 03:07 authored by Thomas Burley, Andrew Hesketh, Giselda Bucca, Emma KennedyEmma Kennedy, Eleni Ladikou, Benjamin TowlerBenjamin Towler, Simon MitchellSimon Mitchell, Colin P Smith, Christopher Fegan, Rosalynd Johnston, Andrea PepperAndrea Pepper, Christopher PepperChristopher PepperThe retention and re-migration of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia cells into cytoprotective and proliferative lymphoid niches is thought to contribute to the development of resistance, leading to subsequent disease relapse. The aim of this study was to elucidate the molecular processes that govern CLL cell migration to elicit a more complete inhibition of tumor cell migration. We compared the phenotypic and transcriptional changes induced in CLL cells using two distinct models designed to recapitulate the peripheral circulation, CLL cell migration across an endothelial barrier, and the lymph node interaction between CLL cells and activated T cells. Initially, CLL cells were co-cultured with CD40L-expressing fibroblasts and exhibited an activated B-cell phenotype, and their transcriptional signatures demonstrated the upregulation of pro-survival and anti-apoptotic genes and overrepresentation of the NF-?B signaling pathway. Using our dynamic circulating model, we were able to study the transcriptomics and miRNomics associated with CLL migration. More than 3000 genes were altered when CLL cells underwent transendothelial migration, with an overrepresentation of adhesion and cell migration gene sets. From this analysis, an upregulation of the FAK signaling pathway was observed. Importantly, PTK2 (FAK) gene expression was significantly upregulated in migrating CLL cells (PTK2 Fold-change = 4.9). Here we demonstrate that TLR9 agonism increased levels of p-FAK (p = 0.05), which could be prevented by pharmacological inhibition of FAK with defactinib (p = 0.01). Furthermore, a reduction in CLL cell migration and invasion was observed when FAK was inhibited (p = 0.0001), supporting a role for FAK in both CLL migration and tissue invasion. When taken together, our data highlights the potential for combining FAK inhibition with current targeted therapies as a more effective treatment regime for CLL.
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Publication status
- Published
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- Published version
Journal
CancersISSN
2072-6694Publisher
MDPIExternal DOI
Issue
7Volume
14Page range
1-16Article number
a1600Department affiliated with
- Clinical and Experimental Medicine Publications
Full text available
- Yes
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2022-04-13First Open Access (FOA) Date
2022-04-13First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date
2022-04-12Usage metrics
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