The Aurora kinase/β-catenin axis contributes to dexamethasone resistance in leukemia
Abstract Glucocorticoids, such as dexamethasone and prednisolone, are widely used in cancer treatment. Different hematological malignancies respond differently to this treatment which, as could be expected, correlates with treatment outcome. In this study, we have used a glucocorticoid-induced gene...
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doaj-8d171ef063c246f09213d55170975b312021-04-02T18:56:56ZengNature Publishing Groupnpj Precision Oncology2397-768X2021-02-015111210.1038/s41698-021-00148-5The Aurora kinase/β-catenin axis contributes to dexamethasone resistance in leukemiaKinjal Shah0Mehreen Ahmed1Julhash U. Kazi2Division of Translational Cancer Research, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund UniversityDivision of Translational Cancer Research, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund UniversityDivision of Translational Cancer Research, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund UniversityAbstract Glucocorticoids, such as dexamethasone and prednisolone, are widely used in cancer treatment. Different hematological malignancies respond differently to this treatment which, as could be expected, correlates with treatment outcome. In this study, we have used a glucocorticoid-induced gene signature to develop a deep learning model that can predict dexamethasone sensitivity. By combining gene expression data from cell lines and patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, we observed that the model is useful for the classification of patients. Predicted samples have been used to detect deregulated pathways that lead to dexamethasone resistance. Gene set enrichment analysis, peptide substrate-based kinase profiling assay, and western blot analysis identified Aurora kinase, S6K, p38, and β-catenin as key signaling proteins involved in dexamethasone resistance. Deep learning-enabled drug synergy prediction followed by in vitro drug synergy analysis identified kinase inhibitors against Aurora kinase, JAK, S6K, and mTOR that displayed synergy with dexamethasone. Combining pathway enrichment, kinase regulation, and kinase inhibition data, we propose that Aurora kinase or its several direct or indirect downstream kinase effectors such as mTOR, S6K, p38, and JAK may be involved in β-catenin stabilization through phosphorylation-dependent inactivation of GSK-3β. Collectively, our data suggest that activation of the Aurora kinase/β-catenin axis during dexamethasone treatment may contribute to cell survival signaling which is possibly maintained in patients who are resistant to dexamethasone.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41698-021-00148-5 |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Kinjal Shah Mehreen Ahmed Julhash U. Kazi |
spellingShingle |
Kinjal Shah Mehreen Ahmed Julhash U. Kazi The Aurora kinase/β-catenin axis contributes to dexamethasone resistance in leukemia npj Precision Oncology |
author_facet |
Kinjal Shah Mehreen Ahmed Julhash U. Kazi |
author_sort |
Kinjal Shah |
title |
The Aurora kinase/β-catenin axis contributes to dexamethasone resistance in leukemia |
title_short |
The Aurora kinase/β-catenin axis contributes to dexamethasone resistance in leukemia |
title_full |
The Aurora kinase/β-catenin axis contributes to dexamethasone resistance in leukemia |
title_fullStr |
The Aurora kinase/β-catenin axis contributes to dexamethasone resistance in leukemia |
title_full_unstemmed |
The Aurora kinase/β-catenin axis contributes to dexamethasone resistance in leukemia |
title_sort |
aurora kinase/β-catenin axis contributes to dexamethasone resistance in leukemia |
publisher |
Nature Publishing Group |
series |
npj Precision Oncology |
issn |
2397-768X |
publishDate |
2021-02-01 |
description |
Abstract Glucocorticoids, such as dexamethasone and prednisolone, are widely used in cancer treatment. Different hematological malignancies respond differently to this treatment which, as could be expected, correlates with treatment outcome. In this study, we have used a glucocorticoid-induced gene signature to develop a deep learning model that can predict dexamethasone sensitivity. By combining gene expression data from cell lines and patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, we observed that the model is useful for the classification of patients. Predicted samples have been used to detect deregulated pathways that lead to dexamethasone resistance. Gene set enrichment analysis, peptide substrate-based kinase profiling assay, and western blot analysis identified Aurora kinase, S6K, p38, and β-catenin as key signaling proteins involved in dexamethasone resistance. Deep learning-enabled drug synergy prediction followed by in vitro drug synergy analysis identified kinase inhibitors against Aurora kinase, JAK, S6K, and mTOR that displayed synergy with dexamethasone. Combining pathway enrichment, kinase regulation, and kinase inhibition data, we propose that Aurora kinase or its several direct or indirect downstream kinase effectors such as mTOR, S6K, p38, and JAK may be involved in β-catenin stabilization through phosphorylation-dependent inactivation of GSK-3β. Collectively, our data suggest that activation of the Aurora kinase/β-catenin axis during dexamethasone treatment may contribute to cell survival signaling which is possibly maintained in patients who are resistant to dexamethasone. |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41698-021-00148-5 |
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