CD44 engagement enhances acute myeloid leukemia cell adhesion to the bone marrow microenvironment by increasing VLA-4 avidity

Haematologica. 2021 Aug 1;106(8):2102-2113. doi: 10.3324/haematol.2019.231944.

Abstract

Adhesive properties of leukemia cells shape the degree of organ infiltration and the extent of leukocytosis. CD44 and the integrin VLA-4, a CD49d/CD29 heterodimer, are important factors of progenitor cell adhesion in bone marrow (BM). Here, we report their cooperation in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) by a novel non-classical CD44-mediated way of inside-out VLA-4 activation. In primary AML BM samples from patients and the OCI-AML3 cell line, CD44 engagement by hyaluronan induced inside-out activation of VLA-4 resulting in enhanced leukemia cell adhesion on VCAM-1. This was independent from VLA-4 affinity regulation but based on ligand-induced integrin clustering on the cell surface. CD44-induced VLA-4 activation could be inhibited by the Src family kinase inhibitor PP2 and the multikinase inhibitor midostaurin. In further consequence, the increased adhesion on VCAM-1 allowed AML cells to strongly bind stromal cells. Thereby VLA-4/VCAM-1 interaction promoted activation of Akt, MAPK, NF-kB and mTOR signaling and decreased AML cell apoptosis. Collectively, our investigations provide a mechanistic description of an unusual CD44 function in regulating VLA-4 avidity in AML, supporting AML cell retention in the supportive BM microenvironment.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Bone Marrow
  • Cell Adhesion
  • Humans
  • Hyaluronan Receptors / genetics
  • Integrin alpha4beta1*
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute*
  • Tumor Microenvironment
  • Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / genetics

Substances

  • CD44 protein, human
  • Hyaluronan Receptors
  • Integrin alpha4beta1
  • Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1