Migration arrest of chemoresistant leukemia cells mediated by MRTF-SRF pathway

• Main Authors: Maho Morimatsu, Erika Yamashita, Shigeto Seno, Takao Sudo, Junichi Kikuta, Hiroki Mizuno, Daisuke Okuzaki, Daisuke Motooka, Masaru Ishii
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2020-07-01
• Series: Inflammation and Regeneration
• Subjects: In vivo imaging; Microscopic imaging; Leukemia; Bone marrow; Cell migration; Cell motility
• Online Access: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s41232-020-00127-6

Abstract Background Dormant chemotherapy-resistant leukemia cells can survive for an extended period before relapse. Nevertheless, the mechanisms underlying the development of chemoresistance in vivo remain unclear. Methods Using intravital bone imaging, we characterized the behavior of murine acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells (C1498) in the bone marrow before and after chemotherapy with cytarabine. Results Proliferative C1498 cells exhibited high motility in the bone marrow. Cytarabine treatment impaired the motility of residual C1498 cells. However, C1498 cells regained their migration potential after relapse. RNA sequencing revealed that cytarabine treatment promoted MRTF-SRF pathway activation. MRTF inhibition using CCG-203971 augmented the anti-tumor effects of chemotherapy in our AML mouse model, as well as suppressed the migration of chemoresistant C1498 cells. Conclusions These results provide novel insight into the role of cell migration arrest on the development of chemoresistance in AML, as well as provide a strong rationale for the modulation of cellular motility as a therapeutic target for refractory AML.