Exploiting Mitochondrial Dysfunction for Effective Elimination of Imatinib-Resistant Leukemic Cells
2011

Exploiting Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Imatinib-Resistant Leukemic Cells

Sample size: 4 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Kluza Jérome, Jendoubi Manel, Ballot Caroline, Dammak Abir, Jonneaux Aurélie, Idziorek Thierry, Joha Sami, Dauphin Véronique, Malet-Martino Myriam, Balayssac Stéphane, Maboudou Patrice, Briand Gilbert, Formstecher Pierre, Quesnel Bruno, Marchetti Philippe

Primary Institution: Université de Lille II, Lille, France

Hypothesis

Imatinib-resistant leukemic cells exhibit altered glucose metabolism and mitochondrial dysfunction that can be therapeutically exploited.

Conclusion

Imatinib-resistant leukemic cells have mitochondrial dysfunction that can be targeted for selective treatment using pro-oxidants.

Supporting Evidence

  • Imatinib-resistant cells showed increased glycolysis compared to sensitive cells.
  • Mitochondria in resistant cells had altered function and produced more reactive oxygen species (ROS).
  • Treatment with pro-oxidants led to increased cell death in imatinib-resistant cells.
  • Knockdown of HIF-1α reduced glycolytic activity in resistant cells.
  • Imatinib-resistant cells had a higher NADH/NAD+ ratio indicating mitochondrial dysfunction.
  • Accumulation of TCA cycle intermediates was observed in resistant cells.
  • Pro-oxidants selectively killed imatinib-resistant cells through ROS-mediated mechanisms.
  • Animal models showed prolonged survival with pro-oxidant treatment in imatinib-resistant leukemia.

Takeaway

Some leukemia cells that don't respond to a common drug have sick mitochondria, and we can use this to help kill them with special treatments.

Methodology

The study involved cell culture experiments, metabolic profiling, and in vivo mouse models to assess mitochondrial function and response to treatments.

Potential Biases

Potential bias in the selection of cell lines and patient samples may affect the generalizability of the findings.

Limitations

The study primarily focused on specific cell lines and may not fully represent all imatinib-resistant leukemia cases.

Participant Demographics

Bone marrow samples were obtained from 4 CML patients resistant to imatinib.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.05

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1371/journal.pone.0021924

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