NOTCH1 is aberrantly activated in chronic lymphocytic leukemia hematopoietic stem cells
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Di Ianni Mauro, Baldoni Stefano, Del Papa Beatrice, Aureli Patrizia, Dorillo Erica, De Falco Filomena, Albi Elisa, Varasano Emanuela, Di Tommaso Ambra, Giancola Raffaella, Accorsi Patrizia, Rotta Gianluca, Rompietti Chiara, Barcelos Estevão Carlos Silva, Campese Antonio Francesco, Di Bartolomeo Paolo, Screpanti Isabella, Rosati Emanuela, Falzetti Franca, Sportoletti Paolo
ISSN: 2234-943X
To investigate chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)-initiating cells, we assessed NOTCH1 mutation/expression in hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). In NOTCH1-mutated CLL, we detected subclonal mutations in 57% CD34+/CD38-HSCs. NOTCH1 mutation was present in 66% CD34+/CD38+ progenitor cells displaying an increased mutational burden compared to HSCs. Flow cytometric analysis revealed significantly higher NOTCH1 activation in CD34+/CD38-and CD34+/CD38+ cells from CLL patients, regardless NOTCH1 mutation compared to healthy donors. Activated NOTCH1 resulted in overexpression of the NOTCH1 target c-MYC. We conclude that activated NOTCH1 is an early event in CLL that may contribute to aberrant HSCs in this disease.