Bptf determines oncogenic addiction in aggressive B-cell lymphomas

Oncogene. 2020 Jun;39(25):4884-4895. doi: 10.1038/s41388-020-1331-3. Epub 2020 May 25.

Abstract

Chromatin remodeling factors contribute to establish aberrant gene expression programs in cancer cells and therefore represent valuable targets for therapeutic intervention. BPTF (Bromodomain PhD Transcription Factor), a core subunit of the nucleosome remodeling factor (NURF), modulates c-MYC oncogenic activity in pancreatic cancer. Here, we analyze the role of BPTF in c-MYC-driven B-cell lymphomagenesis using the Eμ-Myc transgenic mouse model of aggressive B-cell lymphoma. We find that BPTF is required for normal B-cell differentiation without evidence of haploinsufficiency. In contrast, deletion of one Bptf allele is sufficient to delay lymphomagenesis in Eμ-Myc mice. Tumors arising in a Bptf heterozygous background display decreased c-MYC levels and pathway activity, together with increased activation of the NF-κB pathway, a molecular signature characteristic of human diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). In human B-cell lymphoma samples, we find a strong correlation between BPTF and c-MYC mRNA and protein levels, together with an anti-correlation between BPTF and NF-κB pathway activity. Our results indicate that BPTF is a relevant therapeutic target in B-cell lymphomas and that, upon its inhibition, cells acquire distinct oncogenic dependencies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, Nuclear / genetics*
  • Antigens, Nuclear / metabolism
  • B-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Carcinogenesis / genetics
  • Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • Lymphoma, B-Cell / genetics*
  • Lymphoma, B-Cell / metabolism
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • NF-kappa B / genetics
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics*
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism
  • Oncogene Addiction / genetics*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / genetics*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / genetics*
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism

Substances

  • Antigens, Nuclear
  • NF-kappa B
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc
  • Transcription Factors
  • fetal Alzheimer antigen