There is a fundamental gap in understanding molecular interrelationship between longevity and cancer. The long term goal is to understand how a stress-response gene SIRT1 is involved in regulating mammalian longevity and cancer, and to develop novel strategies for cancer treatment and prevention through modulating the gene. The objective of this application is to determine how SIRT1 regulates hematopoietic stem cell functions during aging and upon malignant transformation. The central hypothesis is that SIRT1 is essential for cellular longevity of normal hematopoietic stem cells during aging and under stress, and promotes survival of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) stem cells for chemoresistance. The rationale for the proposed research is that better understanding roles of SIRT1 normal and leukemic stem cells will help design an effective strategy to treat CML, and potentially other blood maligancies, by eradicating leukemic stem cells through modulating SIRT1. Thus, the proposed studies is relevant to the NIH's mission to develop fundamental knowledge that will potentially help to reduce the burdens of human disability. Guided by stong preliminary data, this hypothesis will be tested by pursuing three specific aims: 1) Determine the role of SIRT1 for normal hematopoietic stem cell functions;2) Determine the role of SIRT1 for CML stem cell survival and chemoresistance;and 3) Determine how SIRT1 regulates mutagenesis in normal and leukemic stem cells.
Under aim 1, the consequence of SIRT1 loss on hematopoietic stem cell frequency, quiescence and reconstitution capacity during aging and in response to DNA damage will be determined using bone marrow transplantation assay. Key SIRT1-mediated molecular pathways for stem cell functions will be deciphered.
Under aim 2, CML stem cell survival upon inhibition of SIRT1, by gene knockout or small molecule inhibitor, will be determined.
Under aim 3, the impact of SIRT1 loss or inhibition on developing genetic mutations in normal hematopoietic stem cells and CML stem cells will be investigated, and key SIRT1-regulated DNA damage repair pathways in stem cells will be identified. The proposed research is significant, because it is expected to shed insight on how SIRT1 plays a role in stem cell aging and tumorigenesis, and to develop a new strategy to eradicate resistant CML stem cells through modulating SIRT1 functions.

Public Health Relevance

This proposal addresses mechanisms of resistance of chronic myelogenous leukemia stem cells to chemotherapy and aging of normal hematopoietic stem cells. The proposed studies have direct relevance to human health as they will shed important insight on how a mammalian stress-responsive gene SIRT1 may regulate cancer and aging. As an important translational outcome of these studies, the combination of SIRT1 inhibitors with BCR-ABL inhibitors may prove a novel therapeutic strategy to eradicate leukemia stem cells and improve treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01CA143421-02
Application #
8266042
Study Section
Basic Mechanisms of Cancer Therapeutics Study Section (BMCT)
Program Officer
Mufson, R Allan
Project Start
2011-03-01
Project End
2016-02-29
Budget Start
2012-03-01
Budget End
2013-02-28
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$313,740
Indirect Cost
$126,990
Name
City of Hope/Beckman Research Institute
Department
Type
DUNS #
027176833
City
Duarte
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
91010
Wang, Zhiqiang; Chen, WenYong (2016) A Convenient Cell Culture Model for CML Acquired Resistance Through BCR-ABL Mutations. Methods Mol Biol 1465:149-57
Roth, Mendel; Wang, Zhiqiang; Chen, Wen Yong (2016) SIRT1 and LSD1 competitively regulate KU70 functions in DNA repair and mutation acquisition in cancer cells. Oncotarget 7:50195-50214
Wang, Zhiqiang; Chen, Ching-Cheng; Chen, WenYong (2015) CD150(-) Side Population Defines Leukemia Stem Cells in a BALB/c Mouse Model of CML and Is Depleted by Genetic Loss of SIRT1. Stem Cells 33:3437-51
Li, Ling; Osdal, Tereza; Ho, Yinwei et al. (2014) SIRT1 activation by a c-MYC oncogenic network promotes the maintenance and drug resistance of human FLT3-ITD acute myeloid leukemia stem cells. Cell Stem Cell 15:431-446
Wang, Zhiqiang; Liu, Zheng; Wu, Xiwei et al. (2014) ATRA-induced cellular differentiation and CD38 expression inhibits acquisition of BCR-ABL mutations for CML acquired resistance. PLoS Genet 10:e1004414
Roth, M; Chen, W Y (2014) Sorting out functions of sirtuins in cancer. Oncogene 33:1609-20
Roth, Mendel; Wang, Zhiqiang; Chen, Wen Yong (2013) Sirtuins in hematological aging and malignancy. Crit Rev Oncog 18:531-47
Wang, Zhiqiang; Chen, Wenyong (2013) Emerging Roles of SIRT1 in Cancer Drug Resistance. Genes Cancer 4:82-90
Wang, Z; Yuan, H; Roth, M et al. (2013) SIRT1 deacetylase promotes acquisition of genetic mutations for drug resistance in CML cells. Oncogene 32:589-98
Chen, WenYong; Bhatia, Ravi (2013) Roles of SIRT1 in leukemogenesis. Curr Opin Hematol 20:308-13

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