Title:Exogenous Expression of WNT7A in Leukemia-Derived Cell Lines Induces Resistance to Chemotherapeutic Agents
Volume: 20
Issue: 12
Author(s): Monserrat Alvarez-Zavala, Christian Barreto-Vargas, Luis A. Torres-Reyes, Roberto F. De la Peña-Castro, Adriana Aguilar-Lemarroy and Luis F. Jave-Suarez*
Affiliation:
- Division de Inmunologia, Centro de Investigacion Biomedica de Occidente (CIBO), Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS), Guadalajara, Jalisco,Mexico
Keywords:
WNT signaling, leukemias, WNT7A, chemotherapeutic agents, senescence, cell cycle.
Abstract:
Background: Dysregulations of the WNT pathway are implicated in the malignant transformation of
different types of neoplasia. WNT7A is expressed in normal peripheral lymphocytes, but is decreased in the
tumoral counterpart. Furthermore, the treatment of leukemic cells with recombinant WNT7A decreases proliferation,
suggesting its possible use as a therapeutic biomolecule. This study aimed to evaluate the concomitant
action of WNT7A and different chemotherapeutic agents over proliferation and cell death of leukemia/
lymphoma derived cell lines.
Methods: Ectopic expression of WNT7A was induced in CEM and BJAB cell lines by using a lentiviral system.
RNA expression was analyzed by microarrays and qPCR, and protein expression was determined by Western
Blot. Cell proliferation was measured by cell counting, metabolic activity by WST-1 assay, cell death and DNA
content by flow cytometry.
Results: WNT7A ectopic expression was shown to decrease cell proliferation, but the apoptosis rate of leukemic
cells was not altered. Moreover, these cells acquired resistance to doxorubicin, vincristine and MG-132. Cell
cycle analysis reveals a decrease in G1 and an increase in S and G2 phases with a further upregulation of senescence-
associated genes. Microarray analysis reveals that most gene expression changes were related to cancer
and metabolic associated pathways. All those changes appear to be independent of the WNT canonical pathway
regulation.
Conclusion: WNT7A negatively regulates cell proliferation in leukemic cell lines and promotes resistance to
chemotherapeutic agents by inducing a senescence-like phenotype independently of the WNT canonical pathway.