Glucocorticoids uncover a critical role for ASH2L on BCL-X expression regulation in leukemia cells

Abstract

Targeting the apoptosis machinery is a promising therapeutic approach in myeloid malignancies. BCL2L1 is a well-known glucocorticoid-responsive gene and a key apoptosis regulator that, when over-expressed, can contribute to tumor development, progression and therapeutic resistance. Moreover, synthetic glucocorticoids, like dexamethasone, are frequently used in the treatment of hematopoietic diseases due to its pro-apoptotic properties. We report here that the trithorax protein ASH2L, considered one of the core subunits of H3K4-specific MLL/SET methyltransferase complexes, contributes to anti-apoptotic BCL-XL over-expression and cell survival in patient-derived myeloid leukemia cells. We find that the unliganded glucocorticoid receptor (uGR) and ASH2L interact in a common protein complex through a chromatin looping determined by uGR and ASH2L binding to BCL2L1 specific +58 HRE and promoter region, respectively. Upon addition of dexamethasone, GR and ASH2L recruitment is reduced, BCL-XL expression diminishes and apoptosis is induced consequently. Overall, our findings indicate that uGR and ASH2L may act as key regulatory players of BCL- XL upregulation in AML cells.