RNAi screening uncovers Dhx9 as a modifier of ABT-737 resistance in an Eμ-myc/Bcl-2 mouse model

Blood. 2013 Apr 25;121(17):3402-12. doi: 10.1182/blood-2012-06-434365. Epub 2013 Feb 25.

Abstract

ABT-737 is a promising chemotherapeutic agent that promotes apoptosis by acting as a selective BH3 mimetic to neutralize Bcl-2-like family members. One shortcoming with its use is that Mcl-1, a member of the Bcl-2 family, is poorly inhibited by ABT-737 and thus is a major cause of resistance. We performed a short hairpin RNA (shRNA)-based drop-out screen to identify novel genes and pathways that could reverse resistance to ABT-737 treatment in Eµ-myc/Bcl-2 lymphoma cells engineered to rely on endogenous Mcl-1 for survival. Several drug-sensitive shRNAs were identified that were selectively depleted in the presence of ABT-737. Of these, 2 independent shRNAs targeting the RNA/DNA helicase Dhx9 were found to sensitize lymphomas to ABT-737 to an extent comparable to control Mcl-1 shRNAs. Although Dhx9 suppression sensitized both mouse and human cells to ABT-737 treatment, it did so without altering MCL-1 levels. Rather, loss of Dhx9 appeared to activate a p53-dependent apoptotic program, through aggravation of replicative stress, which was found to be both necessary and sufficient for the ABT-737-shDhx9 synthetic lethal relationship.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biphenyl Compounds / pharmacology*
  • Cell Cycle
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 / physiology
  • DEAD-box RNA Helicases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • DEAD-box RNA Helicases / genetics*
  • DEAD-box RNA Helicases / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal*
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / genetics*
  • Genes, Modifier
  • Humans
  • Lymphoma / genetics*
  • Lymphoma / pathology
  • Mice
  • Myeloid Cell Leukemia Sequence 1 Protein
  • Nitrophenols / pharmacology*
  • Piperazines / pharmacology
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / genetics*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / genetics*
  • RNA Interference*
  • Sulfonamides / pharmacology*

Substances

  • ABT-737
  • Biphenyl Compounds
  • Cdkn2a protein, mouse
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16
  • Dhx9 protein, mouse
  • Mcl1 protein, mouse
  • Myc protein, mouse
  • Myeloid Cell Leukemia Sequence 1 Protein
  • Nitrophenols
  • Piperazines
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc
  • Sulfonamides
  • DEAD-box RNA Helicases