The Msi Family of RNA-Binding Proteins Function Redundantly as Intestinal Oncoproteins

Members of the Msi family of RNA-binding proteins have recently emerged as potent oncoproteins in a range of malignancies. MSI2 is highly expressed in hematopoietic cancers, where it is required for disease maintenance. In contrast to the hematopoietic system, colorectal cancers can express both Msi family members, MSI1 and MSI2. Here, we demonstrate that, in the intestinal epithelium, Msi1 and Msi2 have analogous oncogenic effects. Further, comparison of Msi1/2-induced gene expression programs and transcriptome-wide analyses of Msi1/2-RNA-binding targets reveal significant functional overlap, including induction of the PDK-Akt-mTORC1 axis. Ultimately, we demonstrate that concomitant loss of function of both MSI family members is sufficient to abrogate the growth of human colorectal cancer cells, and Msi gene deletion inhibits tumorigenesis in several mouse models of intestinal cancer. Our findings demonstrate that MSI1 and MSI2 act as functionally redundant oncoproteins required for the ontogeny of intestinal cancers

Msi2 Maintains the MLL Leukemia Stem Cell Regulatory Program

Abstract Leukemia stem cells (LSCs) are found in most aggressive myeloid diseases and contribute to therapeutic resistance. LSCs are characterized by their gain of a self-renewal program that is normally associated with hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). Previously we have shown that the RNA binding protein, Msi2 contributes to both HSC and myeloid leukemia function. Elevated MSI2 expression predicts a poor prognosis in a variety of leukemias and shRNA-mediated depletion in human AML cell lines reduces proliferation, increases differentiation and induces apoptosis. Despite these in vitroand correlative studies, MSI2’s molecular mechanism is not known and its role in LSC function has not been assessed. To elucidate MSI2’s role in LSC function, we utilized the MLL-AF9 leukemia mouse model. Initially we found MSI2 was elevated in the LSC enriched compartment (c-KitHigh cells) compared to non-LSCs (c-KitLow cells) based on flow cytometric intracellular staining. Therefore, to establish a model to study Msi2 and its contribution to myeloid LSCs, we have utilized the Msi2 conditional knockout mice that we previously crossed (Msi2f/f) into an Mx1-Cre background to generate the Msi2Δ/Δallele (injection of polyinositol-polycytosine; pIpC). In order to test if Msi2 is critical for MLL-AF9 mediated initiation, we transduced control Msi2f/f and Msi2Δ/ΔLin- Sca1+ c-Kit+cells (LSKs) with MLL-AF9 expressing retroviruses co-expressing GFP. Msi2 deleted LSKs or granulocyte-monocyte progenitors (GMPs) transduced with MLL-AF9 demonstrated delayed leukemogenesis with dramatically reduced diseased burden. Msi2 deficient leukemias were found to have a 4-fold reduced phenotypic LSC population and were more differentiated based on cellular morphology. Msi2 deficient leukemias failed to transplant into secondary recipients demonstrating that Msi2 is required for maintaining LSCs. Deletion of Msi2after leukemia engraftment led to a delay in leukemogenesis indicating that Msi2 is also important for leukemia maintenance. Gene expression profiling of the Msi2 ablated LSCs resulted in a loss of the HSC/LSC program and an increase in differentiation gene sets. The gene signature from the Msi2 deleted murine LSCs (121 genes) was overlapped and subjected to unsupervised clustering with the gene expression profiles from 336 AML patients (ECOG1900 dataset). This analysis resulted in distinct clusters that had differential MSI2 expression and the MSI2“high” cluster predicted a worse clinical outcome when compared to the other clusters. Overlapping of the differential transcriptional analysis of the Msi2 deleted murine LSCs with our global MSI2 direct mRNA targets (HITS-CLIP) led us to identify that MSI2 binds to transcripts that are associated with the downstream MLL self-renewal program, including Myc and Ikzf2. Ikzf2 is a member of the Ikaros transcription factor family and is known to regulate lymphocyte development by controlling regulatory T-cell function and chromatin remodeling. Ikzf2 shRNA mediated depletion resulted in reduced colony formation, decreased proliferation and increased apoptosis. The MLL associated targets were also reduced, which included Bcl-2 and Hoxa9. In contrast to its tumor suppressor role in hypodiploid B-ALL, these results suggest that Ikzf2 contributes to MLL leukemia cell maintenance. Thus, we provide evidence that MSI2 maintains the oncogenic LSC epigenetic program and the rationale for clinically targeting MSI2 in myeloid leukemia. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare

Functional screen of MSI2 interactors identifies an essential role for SYNCRIP in myeloid leukemia stem cells

The identity of the RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) that govern cancer stem cells remains poorly characterized. The MSI2 RBP is a central regulator of translation of cancer stem cell programs. Through proteomic analysis of the MSI2-interacting RBP network and functional shRNA screening, we identified 24 genes required for in vivo leukemia. Syncrip was the most differentially required gene between normal and myeloid leukemia cells. SYNCRIP depletion increased apoptosis and differentiation while delaying leukemogenesis. Gene expression profiling of SYNCRIP-depleted cells demonstrated a loss of the MLL and HOXA9 leukemia stem cell program. SYNCRIP and MSI2 interact indirectly though shared mRNA targets. SYNCRIP maintains HOXA9 translation, and MSI2 or HOXA9 overexpression rescued the effects of SYNCRIP depletion. Altogether, our data identify SYNCRIP as a new RBP that controls the myeloid leukemia stem cell program. We propose that targeting these RBP complexes might provide a novel therapeutic strategy in leukemia