Nucleostemin silencing induces differentiation and potentiates all-trans-retinoic acid effects in human acute promyelocytic leukemia NB4 cells via autophagy

Leuk Res. 2017 Dec:63:15-21. doi: 10.1016/j.leukres.2017.10.007. Epub 2017 Oct 26.

Abstract

Here, we report that targeting Nucleostemin (NS), a recently discovered stem cells-enriched gene, by a specific small interference RNA (siNS), decreases the rate of proliferation of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) NB4 cells and induces differentiation and autophagy. In addition, NS silencing promotes the effects of all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA)-based differentiation therapy in NB4 cells. Autophagy inhibitors 3-methyladenine and bafilomycin block the effect of NS targeting on differentiation, indicating a new functional link between NS and autophagy as an important regulator of differentiation in NB4 cells. The capability of NS in modulating autophagy and differentiation, alone or in combination with ATRA, may help to broaden the range of treatment options available to treat leukemia.

Keywords: Acute promyelocytic leukemia; All-trans-retinoic acid; Autophagy; Differentiation; Nucleostemin.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Autophagy / drug effects*
  • Cell Differentiation / drug effects*
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • GTP-Binding Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • GTP-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects*
  • Gene Silencing*
  • Humans
  • Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute / drug therapy
  • Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute / genetics
  • Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute / pathology*
  • Nuclear Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • Tretinoin / pharmacology*
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • GNL3 protein, human
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Tretinoin
  • GTP-Binding Proteins