Transcriptional plasticity promotes primary and acquired resistance to BET inhibition

Rathert, P., Roth, M., Neumann, T., Muerdter, F., Roe, J. S., Muhar, M., Deswal, S., Cerny-Reiterer, S., Peter, B., Jude, J., Hoffmann, T., Boryn, L. M., Axelsson, E., Schweifer, N., Tontsch-Grunt, U., Dow, L. E., Gianni, D., Pearson, M., Valent, P., Stark, A., Kraut, N., Vakoc, C. R., Zuber, J. (September 2015) Transcriptional plasticity promotes primary and acquired resistance to BET inhibition. Nature, 525. pp. 543-547. ISSN 1476-4687 (Electronic)0028-0836 (Linking)

URL: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26367798
DOI: 10.1038/nature14898

Abstract

Following the discovery of BRD4 as a non-oncogene addiction target in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), bromodomain and extra terminal protein (BET) inhibitors are being explored as a promising therapeutic avenue in numerous cancers. While clinical trials have reported single-agent activity in advanced haematological malignancies, mechanisms determining the response to BET inhibition remain poorly understood. To identify factors involved in primary and acquired BET resistance in leukaemia, here we perform a chromatin-focused RNAi screen in a sensitive MLL-AF9;NrasG12D-driven AML mouse model, and investigate dynamic transcriptional profiles in sensitive and resistant mouse and human leukaemias. Our screen shows that suppression of the PRC2 complex, contrary to effects in other contexts, promotes BET inhibitor resistance in AML. PRC2 suppression does not directly affect the regulation of Brd4-dependent transcripts, but facilitates the remodelling of regulatory pathways that restore the transcription of key targets such as Myc. Similarly, while BET inhibition triggers acute MYC repression in human leukaemias regardless of their sensitivity, resistant leukaemias are uniformly characterized by their ability to rapidly restore MYC transcription. This process involves the activation and recruitment of WNT signalling components, which compensate for the loss of BRD4 and drive resistance in various cancer models. Dynamic chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing and self-transcribing active regulatory region sequencing of enhancer profiles reveal that BET-resistant states are characterized by remodelled regulatory landscapes, involving the activation of a focal MYC enhancer that recruits WNT machinery in response to BET inhibition. Together, our results identify and validate WNT signalling as a driver and candidate biomarker of primary and acquired BET resistance in leukaemia, and implicate the rewiring of transcriptional programs as an important mechanism promoting resistance to BET inhibitors and, potentially, other chromatin-targeted therapies.

Item Type: Paper
Subjects: bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics > genetics & nucleic acid processing > DNA, RNA structure, function, modification > transcription
bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics > genetics & nucleic acid processing > protein structure, function, modification > protein types > BET bromodomain coactivator protein
bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics > genetics & nucleic acid processing > protein structure, function, modification > protein types > BET bromodomain coactivator protein > Brd4
bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics > genetics & nucleic acid processing > DNA, RNA structure, function, modification > genes, structure and function
diseases & disorders > cancer > cancer types > leukemia
bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics > genetics & nucleic acid processing > protein structure, function, modification > protein types > Wnt
CSHL Authors:
Communities: CSHL Cancer Center Program > Gene Regulation and Cell Proliferation
CSHL Cancer Center Program > Cancer Genetics and Genomics Program
CSHL labs > Vakoc lab
Depositing User: Matt Covey
Date: 14 September 2015
Date Deposited: 18 Sep 2015 16:11
Last Modified: 16 Jul 2021 13:08
PMCID: PMC4921058
Related URLs:
URI: https://repository.cshl.edu/id/eprint/31880

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