TRIB3 Promotes APL Progression through Stabilization of the Oncoprotein PML-RARα and Inhibition of p53-Mediated Senescence

Publication date: 8 May 2017
Source:Cancer Cell, Volume 31, Issue 5
Author(s): Ke Li, Feng Wang, Wen-Bin Cao, Xiao-Xi Lv, Fang Hua, Bing Cui, Jiao-Jiao Yu, Xiao-Wei Zhang, Shuang Shang, Shan-Shan Liu, Jin-Mei Yu, Ming-Zhe Han, Bo Huang, Ting-Ting Zhang, Xia Li, Jian-Dong Jiang, Zhuo-Wei Hu
Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is driven by the oncoprotein PML-RARα, which antagonizes myeloid differentiation and promotes APL-initiating cell self-renewal. Combined all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) with arsenic trioxide (As2O3) or chemotherapy dramatically improves the prognosis of APL patients. Here we report that expression of pseudokinase Tribble 3 (TRIB3) associates positively with APL progression and therapeutic resistance. The elevated TRIB3 expression promotes APL by interacting with PML-RARα and suppressing its sumoylation, ubiquitylation, and degradation. This represses PML nuclear body assembly, p53-mediated senescence, and cell differentiation, and supports cellular self-renewal. Genetically inhibiting TRIB3 expression or combination of a peptide disturbing TRIB3/PML-RARα interaction with ATRA/As2O3 eradicates APL by accelerating PML-RARα degradation. Our study provides insight into APL pathogenesis and a potential therapeutic option against APL.

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Teaser

Li et al. find that TRIB3 promotes acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) by suppressing PML-RARα degradation and that the TRIB3 level correlates with APL progression and therapeutic resistance. Disrupting the TRIB3/PML-RARα interaction with a peptide in combination with ATRA or As2O3 suppresses APL in vivo.


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