Ectopic TLX1 Expression Accelerates Malignancies in Mice Deficient in DNA-PK

Konstantin Krutikov; Yanzhen Zheng; Alden Chesney; Xiaoyong Huang; Andrea K. Vaags; Valentina Evdokimova; Margaret R. Hough; Edwin Chen

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0089649

Abstract

The noncluster homeobox gene HOX11/TLX1 (TLX1) is detected at the breakpoint of the t(10;14)(q24;q11) chromosome translocation in patients with T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). This translocation results in the inappropriate expression of TLX1 in T cells. The oncogenic potential of TLX1 was demonstrated in IgHμ-TLX1^Tg mice which develop mature B cell lymphoma after a long latency period, suggesting the requirement of additional mutations to initiate malignancy. To determine whether dysregulation of genes involved in the DNA damage response contributed to tumor progression, we crossed IgHμ-TLX1^Tg mice with mice deficient in the DNA repair enzyme DNA-PK (Prkdc^Scid/Scid mice). IgHµ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid mice developed T-ALL and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with reduced latency relative to control Prkdc^Scid/Scid mice. Further analysis of thymi from premalignant mice revealed greater thymic cellularity concomitant with increased thymocyte proliferation and decreased apoptotic index. Moreover, premalignant and malignant thymocytes exhibited impaired spindle checkpoint function, in association with aneuploid karyotypes. Gene expression profiling of premalignant IgHµ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid thymocytes revealed dysregulated expression of cell cycle, apoptotic and mitotic spindle checkpoint genes in double negative 2 (DN2) and DN3 stage thymocytes. Collectively, these findings reveal a novel synergy between TLX1 and impaired DNA repair pathway in leukemogenesis.

Citation: Krutikov K, Zheng Y, Chesney A, Huang X, Vaags AK, Evdokimova V, et al. (2014) Ectopic TLX1 Expression Accelerates Malignancies in Mice Deficient in DNA-PK. PLoS ONE 9(2): e89649. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0089649

Editor: Arun Rishi, Wayne State University, United States of America

Received: April 18, 2013; Accepted: January 26, 2014; Published: February 26, 2014

Copyright: © 2014 Krutikov et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Funding: This study was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) grant (to MRH) and the doctoral completion award (to KK). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

Competing interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Introduction

The homeobox gene TLX1 encodes a member of the nonclustered subclass of homeodomain-containing transcription factors. TLX1 was initially identified at the breakpoint of the t(10;14)(q24;q11) reciprocal chromosome translocation in patients with T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) [1], [2], [3]. This translocation places the entire TLX1 coding region under the transcriptional control of the T cell receptor δ (TCRδ) promoter resulting in inappropriate expression of TLX1 in T cells, and is found in ∼5% of pediatric T-ALL and 30% of adult T-ALL cases. TLX1-initiated T-ALL exhibits a block at the stage of β-selection [4]. This maturation arrest might be due to down regulation of the BCL11B tumor suppressor gene [5], [6] or as a result of recruitment of TLX1 by the transcription factor ETS1 to the enhancer of the TCR-α locus leading to repression of Vα-Jα rearrangements [7]. TLX1 is not typically expressed in adult tissues but is critical for the development of the spleen during embryogenesis [8], [9], [10].

Transgenic mice have played a central role in defining the molecular mechanisms of TLX1-initiated hematopoietic malignancies. Transgenic mice in which the TLX1 gene is placed under the control of the immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) promoter and enhancer, thus directing its expression predominantly to the B cell compartment (IgHµ-TLX1^Tg mice), develop mature marginal zone B-cell lymphomas after an extended latency [11]. Surprisingly, although IgHµ-TLX1^Tg mice express elevated levels of TLX1 in thymocytes during the early stages of T lymphopoiesis, no cases of T-ALL have been detected in these mice. More recently, p56^Lck-TLX1 and doxycyline repressible tet-TLX1 transgenic mice with T-cell specific TLX1 expression have been reported [5], [12]. TLX1 expression in T cells induces a block in thymocyte development at the DN2 stage and, similar to human TLX1-initiated T-ALL, TLX1 transgenic mice develop cortical stage tumors with a heterogeneous CD4 and CD8 immunophenotype. Additionally, the doxycyline repressible tet-TLX1 transgenic mice subsequently acquire activating NOTCH1 mutations, consistent with reports that more than 50% of T-ALL patients carry NOTCH1 activating mutations [13] and that NOTCH1 and TLX1 can coregulate transcription in T-ALL cells [14].

An association of TLX1 with aberrant cell cycle checkpoint regulation has been known for many years. In the first such report, TLX1 was shown to interact with protein phosphatases PP2A and PP1 to disrupt a G2/M cell cycle checkpoint [15]. Subsequently, high throughput comparison of gene expression profiles of two cell lines established from patients with TLX1-positive T-ALLs revealed modulated expression of numerous genes associated with G1/S progression [16]. More recently, multiple groups reported that ectopic expression of TLX1 results in dysregulation of the spindle checkpoint [5], [17], attributable, in part, to down-regulated expression of the mitotic checkpoint regulator CHEK1 [5]. One possible manifestation of such widespread subversion of cell cycle checkpoint control would be a loss of genomic integrity. Indeed, TLX1-transgenic mice exhibit a heightened predisposition for the development of whole chromosome copy changes [5], [17], [18].

Prkdc encodes the catalytic subunit of the DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PKcs) which plays a critical role in the non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) pathway of DNA repair. It is also critical for V(D)J recombination, a process which relies on NHEJ to promote immune system diversity at the Ig or TCR loci. Mice harboring homozygous germline inactivating mutations in the Prkdc gene (Prkdc^Scid/Scid) are viable but have severe combined immunodeficiency due to an inability to undergo V(D)J recombination. B cell development in these mice is arrested at the B220⁺CD19⁺IgM^- stage, whereas thymocyte development is arrested at the DN3 stage [19]. Critically, DNA-PK deficiency in mice contributes to genomic instability [20], [21], [22], [23] and Prkdc^Scid/Scid mice are prone to the spontaneous development of T-ALL, AML and nonthymic tumors [24], [25], [26].

In this report, we tested whether increased genomic instability associated with DNA-PK loss collaborates with TLX1 to accelerate T-ALL. To this end, we generated double mutant IgHμ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid mice and showed that these mice exhibit statistically significant accelerated onset of leukemia relative to Prkdc^Scid/Scid mice. Moreover, we identify numerous genetic pathways that are perturbed in association with TLX1 overexpression, including those involved in chromosome segregation, cell cycle checkpoints and apoptosis.

Results

Similar Premalignant Phenotypes in Young IgHμ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid and Prkdc^Scid/Scid Mice

To determine whether dysregulation of a DNA repair pathway collaborated with ectopic expression of TLX1 in disease progression, we crossed IgHμ-TLX1^Tg mice with CB17 ICR-Prkdc^scid mice (referred to as Prkdc^Scid/Scid mice). We chose to use the ICR background as it most resembles the outbred background of the CD1-TLX1 mice.

The thymi and spleens of control Prkdc^Scid/Scid mice and double mutant IgHμ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid mice were initially examined at 6 weeks of age, prior to the development of any overt leukemia. Thymi from IgHμ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid mice exhibited significantly reduced cellularity compared to wildtype mice, but was increased relative to those of Prkdc^Scid/Scid mice (Table 1). Spleens of IgHμ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid mice were also reduced in cellularity as compared to wild type mice, but were also increased as compared to spleens of Prkdc^Scid/Scid littermates (Table 1). Due to the lack of lymphoid cells, Peyer’s patches and lymph nodes of IgHμ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid and Prkdc^Scid/Scid mice were small and difficult to detect. Histologically, thymi of IgHμ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid and Prkdc^Scid/Scid mice lacked cortico-medullary delineation and consisted of predominantly epithelial cells and immature thymocytes. In the spleen, lymphoid follicles and germinal centers were devoid of lymphoid cells and populated with fibroblasts and plasma cells. Bone marrow histology appeared normal.

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Table 1. Absolute thymocyte and splenocyte numbers in premalignant mice.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0089649.t001

Expression of the TLX1 Transgene in Thymocytes of IgHμ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid Mice

The TLX1 transgene in the double mutant mice was driven by the IgHμ promoter. Although the activity of the IgHμ promoter is typically restricted to B cells, leaky expression in thymocytes and myeloid progenitors has been reported [27], [28]. Therefore, to quantitate IgHμ-directed TLX1 expression during T lymphopoiesis, thymocytes were derived from wild type, Prkdc^Scid/Scid and IgHμ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid mice by co-culture of murine fetal liver cells-derived hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) on OP9-DL1 stromal cells and TLX1 expression was analyzed by RT-PCR (Figure 1A). Weak TLX1 transgene expression was detected in DN1, DN2 and DN3 thymocytes and in CD44^-CD25^- cells (Figure 1B). Expression was down regulated as cells progressed from DN1 to the DN3 stage and was significantly decreased in CD44^-CD25^- cells, consistent with declining activity of the IgHµ promoter during thymocyte maturation as previously reported [27], [28]. Expression of TLX1 was not detected in DN1, DN2, DN3 or CD44^-CD25^- thymocytes derived from Prkdc^Scid/Scid or wild type mice indicating that the TLX1 detected originated from the IgHμ-TLX1 transgene and not the endogenous mouse Tlx1 gene. To confirm that the TLX1 transgene was also expressed in vivo, quantitative RT-PCR analysis of thymocytes obtained from six week old IgHμ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid and Prkdc^Scid/Scid age- and sex-matched littermates was performed (Figure 1C). Expression of the TLX1 transgene was detected in DN1, DN2, DN3 and CD44^-CD25^- thymocytes from IgHμ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid mice (Figure 1D). Of note, the level of expression of the IgHμ-TLX1 transgene in thymocytes was significantly lower than that detected in purified B220⁺ splenocytes from IgHμ-TLX1^Tg mice.

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Figure 1. Expression of TLX1 in IgHμ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid premalignant thymocytes.

(A) OP9-DL1 co-cultures were initiated using fetal liver-derived IgHµ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid, Prkdc^Scid/Scid and wild type (WT) HSCs. Thymocytes were harvested on day 7 and flow sorted into DN1, DN2, DN3 and CD44^-CD25^- fractions on the basis of CD25 and CD44 expression. (B) RT-PCR analysis showing expression of the TLX1 transgene in IgHµ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid, Prkdc^Scid/Scid and WT thymocytes expanded in the OP9-DL1 co-culture system. Purified B220⁺ splenocytes isolated from wild type and IgHµ-TLX1^Tg mice were used as negative and positive controls, respectively. TLX1 expression was not detected in immature thymocytes derived from Prkdc^Scid/Scid and WT mice. (C) Total thymocytes were obtained from thymi of six week old IgHµ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid and Prkdc^Scid/Scid mice and DN1, DN2, DN3 and CD44^-CD25^- fractions were flow sorted based on CD44 and CD25 expression. (D) qRT-PCR analysis showing expression of the TLX1 transgene in DN1, DN2, DN3 and CD44^-CD25^- thymocytes flow sorted from the thymi of IgHµ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid and Prkdc^Scid/Scid mice. B220⁺ splenocytes from healthy IgHµ-TLX1^Tg mice were used as a positive control whereas thymocytes from Prkdc^Scid/Scid mice were used as a negative control. Expression of the TLX1 transgene in total thymocytes of IgHµ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid and Prkdc^Scid/Scid mice is also shown.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0089649.g001

Accelerated Leukemogenesis in IgHμ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid Mice

To determine whether ectopic expression of TLX1 collaborated with DNA-PK deficiency in the pathogenesis of hematopoietic malignancies, a cohort of 60 IgHμ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid mice and 50 age and sex matched Prkdc^Scid/Scid mice were followed for 24 months. At the end of this period, all mice had developed a malignancy with histological features and flow cytometric profiles consistent with either T-ALL or acute myeloid leukemia (AML) (Figure 2A). However, IgHμ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid mice succumbed to disease at earlier time points relative to Prkdc^Scid/Scid littermates. The median survival of the complete cohort of IgHµ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid and Prkdc^Scid/Scid mice, irrespective of disease diagnosis, was 6.6 and 10.25 months, respectively (Figure 2D). The one-year survival probability estimate of IgHµ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid mice was also decreased relative to those of Prkdc^Scid/Scid littermates developing either T-ALL or AML (Figure 2E).

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Figure 2. TLX1 accelerates T-ALL and AML in IgHµ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid mice.

Cohorts of mice were monitored for signs of disease for 25 months. A diagnosis of AML or T-ALL was made based on histological examination of bone marrow, spleen and thymic tissues. Survival of Prkdc^Scid/Scid and IgHµ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid mice are indicated by blue or red lines, respectively. (A) Disease free survival of Prkdc^Scid/Scid and IgHµ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid mice during the observation period, (p<0.0001). (B) T-ALL free survival of Prkdc^Scid/Scid and IgHµ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid mice during the 25 month observation period, (p<0.003). (C) AML free survival of Prkdc^Scid/Scid and IgHµ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid mice during the 25 month observation period, (p<0.0001). (D) Median survival of the complete IgHµ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid and Prkdc^Scid/Scid mouse cohorts developing T-ALL and/or AML. The column labeled as T-ALL/AML corresponds to Figure 1A and shows the median survival of IgHµ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid and Prkdc^Scid/Scid mice from cohorts developing either T-ALL or AML. The columns labeled T-ALL and AML correspond to Figure 1B and 1C and indicate median survival of IgHµ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid or Prkdc^Scid/Scid mice from cohorts developing T-ALL or AML respectively. (E) A one-year Kaplan-Meier survival probability estimate of the complete cohort of IgHµ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid and Prkdc^Scid/Scid mice developing T-ALL or AML.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0089649.g002

In total, 59% of IgHμ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid mice and 54% of Prkdc^Scid/Scid mice developed an immature T-cell leukemia. The median survival of IgHμ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid mice with T-ALL was 6.5 months, whereas Prkdc^Scid/Scid mice exhibited a protracted latency with a median survival of 8.25 months (Figure 2B, D). Histological examination of tissues of Prkdc^Scid/Scid and IgHµ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid mice exhibiting T-ALL indicated thymic involvement in 100% of animals, while splenic and bone marrow infiltration of tumor cells was detected in 67% and 52% of mice, respectively. This suggests that the thymus was the primary site for disease initiation. The architecture of the thymus was disrupted with indistinguishable cortico-medullary delineation. The spleens had disrupted follicles, with patchy areas infiltrated with a large, relatively uniform population of lymphocytes having polylobulated pleomorphic nuclei with diffuse, loose, speckled, open chromatin and prominent nucleoli (Figure 3A).

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Figure 3. TLX1-induced T-ALL in IgHµ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid mice.

(A) Hematoxylin and eosin staining of tissues isolated from premalignant Prkdc^Scid/Scid and IgHµ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid mice and IgHµ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid mice diagnosed with T-ALL. Magnification x40 (overview) and x100 (insert). Scale bars, 10 µm. (B) Immunohistochemical analysis of thymus and spleen from a premalignant IgHµ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid mouse and a moribund IgHµ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid mouse stained with an anti-Thy1.2 antibody. Magnification x20. Scale bars, 10 µm. (C) Cells from thymi, spleens and bone marrow of premalignant and moribund IgHµ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid mice were examined for cell surface expression of CD44, CD25, CD4, CD8, CD3, TCRαβ, TCRγδ and Thy1.2 (for T cells) and Gr-1 and Mac-1 (for myeloid cells).

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0089649.g003

Immunohistological analysis was performed using frozen sections of thymi and spleens isolated from age- and sex-matched healthy and terminal IgHμ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid mice. Staining of sections with the pan T-cell antibody, Thy1.2, revealed numerous Thy1.2⁺ cells in the subcortical area of the thymi while Thy1.2⁺ cells were absent in the medullar area of thymi and were not detected in the spleens of healthy mice. In contrast, a homogeneous population of Thy1.2⁺ tumor cells was detected throughout the thymi and spleens of terminal mice (Figure 3B).

Flow cytometric analysis revealed heterogeneity in the tumor phenotype with respect to expression of CD4 and CD8 (Figure 3C) with tumor cells isolated from the thymus, spleen and bone marrow expressing both CD4 and CD8 or only CD4 with decreased levels of expression of CD44 and CD25. Other tumors consisted of CD44 and CD25 expressing cells with profiles typical of DN1, DN2 and DN3 cells or only DN3 thymocytes. Tumor cells did not expressed αβ- or γδ- T cell receptors, indicative of an immature thymocyte phenotype (Figure 3C). The majority (60%) of thymic tumors had a mixed phenotype expressing low-levels of CD4 and CD8 along with a combination of CD44 and CD25 (Figure 4).

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Figure 4. Immunophenotype of TLX1-induced T-ALL.

Immunophenotype distribution showing heterogeneous expression of CD44, CD25, CD4 and CD8 in IgHµ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid T-ALL. Representative flow diagrams showing heterogeneous expression of CD4 and CD8 in TLX1-initiated leukemia are presented.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0089649.g004

Forty one percent of IgHμ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid mice developed AML, with a median survival of 7.0 months and 46% of Prkdc^Scid/Scid control mice developed AML with a median survival of 14.0 months (Figure 2C, D). In these cases, histological analysis of bone marrow and spleens from terminally ill mice revealed the presence of leukemic cells with a primitive myeloid phenotype (Figure 5A). Histological analysis indicated the absence of tumor cells in the thymus while flow cytometry analysis using CD44 and CD25 antibodies indicated that thymi contained a normal profile of immature DN thymocytes typical for mice with the Prkdc^Scid/Scid mutation (Figure 5B). Moreover, thymocytes did not express TCRβ, CD3, CD4 and CD8 receptors and thus, had not progressed beyond the DN3 stage of development. Flow cytometric analysis of bone marrow and spleens cells stained with Gr-1 and Mac-1 antibodies revealed an increased proportion of Mac-1^loGr-1^lo, Mac-1^hiGr-1^int and Mac-1^hiGr-1^lo cells in IgHμ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid mice relative to Prkdc^Scid/Scid mice, supporting a diagnosis of AML.

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Figure 5. TLX1-induced AML in IgHµ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid mice.

(A) Hematoxylin and eosin staining of tissues isolated from premalignant Prkdc^Scid/Scid and IgHµ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid mice and from IgHµ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid mice diagnosed with AML. Magnification x40 (overview) and x100 (insert). Scale bars, 10 µm. (B) Cells from thymi, spleens and bone marrow of premalignant and moribund IgHµ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid mice were examined for cell surface expression of CD44, CD25, CD4, CD8, CD3, TCRαβ, TCRγδ and Thy1.2 (for T cells) and Gr-1 and Mac-1 (for myeloid cells).

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0089649.g005

Leukemic Thymocytes from IgHμ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid mice Exhibit Molecular Features Reminiscent of Human T-ALL

To test whether the T-ALL-like disease seen in the IgHμ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid mice resembled human T-ALL at a molecular level, we assessed the expression of several genes which had previously been shown to be associated with the progression of human T-ALL such as NOTCH1, PTEN and BCL11B [5], [13], [29], [30] in ten tumors isolated from IgHμ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid and Prkdc^Scid/Scid mice. Consistent with gene expression patterns in human T-ALLs, these analyses revealed a statistically significant (p<0.05) reduction in the expression of Bcl11b and Pten in T-ALL arising in IgHμ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid mice relative to tumors isolated from Prkdc^Scid/Scid mice (Figure 6). Furthermore, elevated expression of Notch1 was detected in six of ten tumors isolated from IgHμ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid mice relative to Prkdc^Scid/Scid mice (p<0.05). These data indicated that malignant thymocytes derived from IgHμ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid mice exhibited a similar pattern of expression of a subset of genes that has previously been implicated in TLX1-initiated human T-ALL.

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Figure 6. qRT-PCR analysis of thymic tumors derived from Prkdc^Scid/Scid and IgHμ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid mice.

qRT-PCR analysis of expression of Bcl11b, Pten and Notch1 in tumors isolated from ten Prkdc^Scid/Scid and ten IgHµ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid mice. Data were normalized relative to β-actin. Each bar represents one tumor sample.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0089649.g006

Gene Expression Profiling in Premalignant Thymocytes Reveals Dysregulated Expression of Genes Involved in Cell Cycle, Apoptosis and Chromosome Segregation

Next, we sought to interrogate the molecular pathways dysregulated in the earliest stages of TLX1-induced transformation in the context of Prkdc deficiency. Therefore, we purified premalignant DN1, DN2 and DN3 thyomocytes from four cohorts of IgHμ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid mice and four cohorts of control Prkdc^Scid/Scid mice, and compared their gene expression profiles using Affymetrix Gene Chip microarrays (Figure S1A–B). Each cohort consisted of 2–5 sex- and age-matched mice. From this analysis, we identified 103 TLX1-associated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in DN1 thymocytes, (89 up regulated genes, 14 down regulated genes), 151 DEGs in DN2 thymocytes (139 up regulated, 12 genes down regulated) and 522 DEGs in DN3 thymocytes (495 up regulated, 27 genes down regulated) (Figure 7A, Tables S1–3). The over-abundance of DEGs in the DN3 fraction suggested that the effects of TLX1 on target gene expression were more profound at more mature stages of thymocyte development.

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Figure 7. Heat map of the top ranking differentially expressed genes in flow sorted premalignant thymocytes.

(A) Venn diagrams depicting TLX1-associated up-regulated and down-regulated genes in DN1, DN2 and DN3 fractions. (B–D) Gene expression heat map of the top ranking differentially expressed genes in DN1 (B), DN2 (C) and DN3 (D) flow-sorted thymocytes from IgHµ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid and Prkdc^Scid/Scid mice. For each heat map, the first four columns (TLX1⁺) show IgHµ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid thymocyte-derived samples, and the last four columns (TLX1^-) represent samples derived from thymocytes of Prkdc^Scid/Scid mice.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0089649.g007

Heat maps of the top ranked DEGs for each DN fraction are shown in Figure 7B–D. Analysis using the Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery (DAVID) software revealed a disproportionate representation of cell cycle- and apoptosis-related genes amongst the TLX1-associated DEGs across all DN subpopulations. In total, the expression of 4, 12 and 28 genes which regulate cell cycle progression, and 10, 15 and 48 genes which regulate apoptosis were dysregulated in IgHμ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid DN1, DN2 and DN3 thymocytes, respectively (Tables S1–3). Amongst apoptotic regulators which were dysregulated, the majority were anti-apoptotic genes which were up-regulated (Prnp, Stambp, Men1, Dhcr24, Aars, Akt1, Bre, Rasa1, Adora2a, Api5, Dnajc5, Stat5a, Tnfaip3, Gsk3b, Ikk-β, Pik3cd, Prkacb and Akt/Pkb), while some apoptosis-inducing genes were down regulated (Bax, Stk17b and Elmo1). Among the differentially expressed cell cycle regulators, genes involved in mitotic spindle checkpoint regulation, such as components of the anaphase promoting complex (APC) (Anapc1, Anapc5, Cdc23), regulators of chromosome segregation (Anapc1, Anapc5, Cdc23, Smc1a, Rad21 and Stag1) and cohesion subunits (Smc1a, Rad21 and Stag1) were prominent. Consistent with this, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) applied to the DN1, DN2 and DN3 datasets separately also revealed enrichment of genes encoding components of the spindle complex in TLX1-associated targets from DN2 thymocytes (NES = 2.21, q-value = 0.02) (Figure S2).

We next validated dysregulated expression of a subset of DEGs in thymocytes from IgHμ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid and Prkdc^Scid/Scid control mice by qRT-PCR (Figure 8). Analysis of DN1, DN2 and DN3 thymocytes confirmed elevated expression of Aurka, Bub1 and Anaps5 in TLX1-expressing thymocytes. Furthermore, we demonstrate increased expression of the apoptosis genes, Brca1 and Birc5 in DN2 thymocytes and decreased expression of Chek1 in DN1 thymocytes from IgHμ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid mice. Finally, expression of additional genes involved in cell cycle regulation known to be associated with human T-ALL initiation and progression were also assessed. qRT-PCR analysis confirmed upregulated expression of the cell cycle regulators, cyclin B1 and cyclin A and upregulated expression of the oncogenes, c-myc and c-myb, in IgHμ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid thymocytes relative to Prkdc^Scid/Scid thymocytes. Combined, these results suggest that TLX1 in collaboration with loss of DNA-PK dysregulates the expression of genes involved in the regulation of the cell cycle, the spindle checkpoint and chromosome segregation.

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Figure 8. Validation of differential gene expression in premalignant thymocytes of Prkdc^Scid/Scid and IgHμ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid mice.

qRT-PCR analysis of selected genes whose protein products are involved in chromosome segregation (Chek1, Aurka and Bub1), cell cycle progression (Cyclin A, Cyclin B1, Anapc5, c-myc and c-myb) and apoptosis (Birc5, Brca1). Samples are presented as pairs with the first bar representing the level of expression of cells isolated from Prkdc^Scid/Scid mice and the second from IgHµ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid mice. Data were normalized relative to β-actin. Red bars: DN1; brown: DN2; green: DN3 cells; black; total unsorted thymocytes. Error bars represent SD. Statistical testing was performed using the student’s T-test. Statistically significant differences are indicated by asterisks (* depicts p<0.05, ** depicts p<0.01, *** depicts p<0.001).

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0089649.g008

Increased Cellularity of Thymi from IgHμ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid Mice

We predicted that the effect of TLX1 on cell cycle and apoptotic control may cause aberrant thymocyte proliferation. Therefore, to explore the effects of TLX1 expression on thymus cellularity, assessments of absolute numbers, apoptosis and proliferation of thymocytes were performed using thymi isolated from premalignant IgHμ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid and Prkdc^Scid/Scid mice. Cell counts revealed a statistically significant increase in the absolute number of thymocytes isolated from thymi of IgHμ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid mice relative to Prkdc^Scid/Scid control littermates (Figure 9A). This increased cellularity was observed in all three DN fractions (Figure 9B). Cell viability, as assessed by Annexin V and Propidium Iodide (PI) staining (Figure 9C), revealed an increase in the proportion of viable thymocytes and a reduction in apoptotic and dead thymocytes obtained from IgHμ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid thymi relative to Prkdc^Scid/Scid controls (Figure 9D). Moreover, the proportion of proliferating thymocytes from IgHμ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid mice was also significantly increased, as established by in vivo BrdU incorporation (Figure 9E–F). Combined, these data suggested that the increased cellularity of thymi of premalignant IgHμ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid mice results from decreased cell death and increased proliferation of immature DNA-PK-deficient TLX1-expressing thymocytes.

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Figure 9. Expression of TLX1 in IgHµ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid premalignant thymocytes increases cell viability and provides a proliferative advantage.

(A) Absolute cell numbers of thymocytes isolated from 20, six week old IgHµ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid and 20 Prkdc^Scid/Scid littermates (p<0.0001). (B) Thymocytes were flow sorted based on expression of CD44 and CD25 and absolute numbers of DN thymocytes were calculated using percentages obtained after flow sorting (p<0.0001). (C) Thymocytes from three, six week old IgHµ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid and Prkdc^Scid/Scid littermates were stained with Annexin V and PI than assessed by flow cytometric analysis for cell viability. The lower left quadrant of each panel contains viable cells, the upper right quadrant contains dead cells and the lower right quadrant contains early apoptotic cells. The percentage of cells in each quadrant is indicated. (D) Percentages of viable, apoptotic and dead thymocytes in thymi of IgHµ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid and Prkdc^Scid/Scid littermates, as determined by flow cytometry with Annexin V and PI staining. Error bars represent SD. (E) Histogram showing premalignant thymocytes obtained from Prkdc^Scid/Scid and IgHµ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid mice, 2 and 7 hours after intraperitoneal injection with 10 µM BrdU. (F) The percentages of proliferating cells in thymi of IgHµ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid and Prkdc^Scid/Scid littermates as determined by BrdU and PI staining. Data represent means of triplicate measurements with error bars to represent ± SD (p<0.0001). Statistically significant differences between compared samples are indicated by asterisks.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0089649.g009

Aneuploidy and Spindle Checkpoint Dysfunction in Premalignant Thymocytes and Thymic Tumors

Previous studies revealed an association of TLX1 overexpression with dysregulated chromosome segregation [5], [17]. To determine whether a similar phenomenon was also a feature of malignant TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid-derived T cells, we compared chromosome numbers in metaphase spreads prepared from thymocytes and tumor cells obtained from premalignant and terminally ill IgHμ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid and Prkdc^Scid/Scid mice. Premalignant thymocytes were analyzed directly after isolation of thymi and after in vitro culture in the OP9-DL1 co-culture system. These analyses indicated that premalignant thymocytes and tumor cells of IgHμ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid mice had a statistically significant increase in the numbers of aneuploid cells relative to Prkdc^Scid/Scid samples (Figure 10A–B).

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Figure 10. Chromosome analysis of premalignant thymocytes and tumors from Prkdc^Scid/Scid and IgHµ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid mice.

(A) Representative micrographs of Giemsa stained diploid, hyperdiploid, and hypoploid chromosome spreads from IgHµ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid mice. (B) Ploidy assessment of cultured thymocytes and thymic tumors obtained from premalignant and moribund Prkdc^Scid/Scid and IgHµ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid mice, respectively. For each of three samples, 40 to 100 metaphase spreads were analyzed. The percentage of aneuploid spreads relative to the total number of analyzed spreads was determined. Statistically significant differences (p<0.05) are indicated by asterisks. (C) Spectral karyotype analysis of a hypoploid tumor isolated from an IgHµ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid mouse with T-ALL. Loss of chromosome 12 and gain of chromosome 17 were found in 10% and 5% of analyzed cells, respectively. The karyotype is indicated below. (D) An abnormal, unbalanced trisomy 15 karyotype with a rob(5;15) translocation and two normal copies of chromosome 15. Examples of the rob(5;15) chromosomes and chromosome 15 are shown. The karyotype is indicated below.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0089649.g010

Spectral karyotype (SKY) analysis of three tumors isolated from IgHμ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid mice confirmed these results. In addition, these studies revealed a recurrent loss of chromosome 12 and gain of 17 in the cells of two independently arising tumors (Figure 10C). Moreover, two of three tumors showed an unbalanced trisomy 15 with tumor cells containing two normal chromosome 15 and a Robertsonian translocation consisting of chromosome 5 and chromosome 15, replacing one chromosome 5. Breakpoints in both the 5 and 15 chromosomes were located within the centromeric region (Figure 10D).

We speculated that the abnormal karyotypes detected in thymocytes of IgHμ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid mice were due to dysregulation of the spindle cell cycle checkpoint. To address this possibility, we compared the frequency at which premalignant thymocytes from IgHμ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid and Prkdc^Scid/Scid mice bypassed the spindle cell cycle checkpoint. Thymocytes derived using the OP9-DL1 co-culture system were arrested with colchicine, a mitotic spindle poison, and the proportion of cells in G1, S or G2/M phase of the cycle determined at eight-hour intervals by analysis of DNA content. In two independently performed experiments, IgHμ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid thymocytes showed a reduced proportion of thymocytes in G2/M at all-time points assessed, relative to Prkdc^Scid/Scid thymocytes, suggesting an increased ability to bypass this checkpoint (Figure 11A). To further verify the ability of IgHμ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid premalignant thymocytes to bypass the spindle cell cycle checkpoint, cells were subjected to colchicine-induced spindle checkpoint arrest and then cultured in the presence of BrdU. Incorporation of BrdU into the nucleus was used as an indicator of cell division. These analyses indicated a statistically significant increase in BrdU positive thymocytes for IgHμ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid mice relative to thymocytes from Prkdc^Scid/Scid mice (30% ±4.6 versus 16.3% ±5.1; p<0.05) (Figure 11B). Taken together, these results indicated that the aneuploidy observed in Igμ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid thymocytes resulted from dysregulated control of the spindle checkpoint in TLX1 overexpressing cells.

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Figure 11. Aberrant checkpoint regulation in thymocytes of IgHµ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid mice.

(A) Cell cycle analysis showing the percentage of thymocytes in S and G2/M as determined by PI staining for DNA content. Percentages of cells in S and G2/M are shown above the histograms. (B) BrdU labeling to assess bypass of the G2/M cell cycle checkpoint in Prkdc^Scid/Scid and IgHµ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid thymocyte cultures. Thymocytes were treated with colchicine to induce mitotic arrest then exposed to BrdU to assess cell cycling. BrdU incorporation was detected by BrdU immunolabeling and nulcei were revealed by DAPI staining. White arrows on the merged images indicate cycling thymocytes. The histogram depicts the mean percentages of BrdU-positive cells assessed by scoring 20 random fields. Statistically significant differences (p<0.05) are indicated by asterisks.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0089649.g011

Discussion

The first transgenic mouse model confirming the oncogenic potential of TLX1 in vivo was reported by Hough et al [11]. These mice expressed elevated levels of TLX1 throughout all stages of B cell development, during the early stages of thymocyte development and in myeloid progenitors. A premalignant stage involving mature B cells was detected in mice as early as eight weeks of age. Most mice died of a mature B cell lymphoma although ∼20% died of myeloid hyperplasia. The average age of death was 14 months. More recently, two transgenic mouse models were described in which ectopic TLX1 expression was restricted to the T cell compartment. These mice develop a T-ALL-like disease with a disease latency of 35 weeks months [5], [12] In both reports, there was an extended latency prior to the development of malignant disease, suggesting that ectopic expression of TLX1, by itself, was insufficient to initiate malignancy and that additional mutations were required for premalignant cells to progress to full malignancy.

In this report, we shed light on an additional process, namely the loss of the DNA repair enzyme DNA-PK, which collaborates with TLX1 in neoplastic transformation. IgHμ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid mice rapidly died of T-ALL or AML at a significantly reduced latency compared to Prkdc^Scid/Scid control mice. That a proportion of mice developed myeloid malignancies was consistent with our previous report that expression of TLX1 in myeloid progenitors predisposed mice to myeloid hyperplasia [11]. Furthermore, these studies indicated that the dysregulated expression of TLX1 did not influence disease phenotype, but rather, accelerated malignant transformation of not only T-ALL, but also AML in IgHμ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid mice.

Our report aso provides some insights into possible molecular mechanisms by which DNA-PK insufficiency synergizes with TLX1 expression to accelerate T-ALL in mice. Given its role as a key DNA repair enzyme in the NHEJ pathway, we were somewhat surprised that malignant thymocytes from IgHμ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid mice did not exhibit increased incidences of translocations, amplifications or end-to-end telomere fusions. Rather, these cells instead exhibited increased incidences of aneuploidy. It remains unclear whether this reflects a direct or indirect effect of DNA-PK insufficiency. Of note, in addition to its canonical role in the NHEJ pathway, DNA-PK has also been implicated as a regulator of chromosome segregation [22], [23], and its loss in IgHμ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid mice may directly compromise spindle checkpoint function. Alternatively, the aneuploidy in IgHμ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid mice may reflect indirect consequences of gene expression changes, such as attenuated expression of key spindle checkpoint proteins. Similar to our findings, thymocytes from a p56^Lck-TLX1 mice model also exhibit attenuated Chek1 expression, which is associated with spindle checkpoint dysfunction and a predisposition towards aneuoploidization [5]. Interestingly, in that study, decreased expression of spindle checkpoint factors Aurka and Bub1 was observed, whereas increased expression was noted in the IgHμ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid mice. This discrepancy may be linked to variations in TLX1 expression in the different mouse models, differences in the genetic backgrounds of the mice and a gene expression modulatory effect of DNA-PK deficiency. For several of these spindle checkpoint proteins, however, both increased and decreased expression can been correlated with checkpoint dysfunction [31], [32].

It is worth noting that, despite vastly different methodological approaches, the karyotypic abnormalities seen in IgHμ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid mice (+13, +17, -12) recapitulated those reported in other murine models of T-ALL [5]. It is likely that these chromosomes harbor oncogenes and tumor suppressors that may be especially relevant in T-ALL pathogenesis. For example, the putative tumor suppressor gene Bcl11b resides on mouse chromosome 12 and BCL11B is deleted in ∼16% of human T-ALL [5]. These overlaps indicate that the pathways which serve to maintain proper ploidy is particularly important in T-ALL biology, and may be a frequent node for disruption for the nascent T-cell malignancy. While, to our knowledge, mutations in the Prkdc gene have not been identified in whole exome sequencing efforts of two cohorts of primary T-ALL patients [33], [34], further data mining and sequencing efforts to identify lesions in other components of the NHEJ pathway as well as other DNA repair pathways in T-ALL may be warranted.

Materials and Methods

Mice

Mice were bred and maintained under pathogen-free conditions and monitored daily for signs of illness. Mice were euthanized and necropsied when moribund. All manipulations were performed under Canadian Animal Care protocols and approved by the Sunnybrook Research Animal Care Committee (Protocol number: 12-005). Double mutant IgHμ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid mice were generated by mating previously described IgHμ-TLX1^Tg mice (original name IgHμ-HOX11 transgenic mice [12], [13]), bred onto the CD1 genetic background, with CB17 ICR- Prkdc^Scid/Scid mice bred onto an ICR genetic background (Charles River Laboratories (Wilmington, MA, USA). IgHμ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid and Prkdc^Scid/Scid mice were mated and progeny were genotyped and used to generate cohorts.

The presence of the IgHμ-TLX1 transgene was revealed by PCR amplification of a 287-bp fragment using 5′-AACCGCAGATACACAAAGGA-3′ forward and 5′-TGGGCCAGGCTCTTCTGGAA-3′ reverse primers. Mice homozygous for the Prkdc mutation (Prkdc^Scid/Scid) were detected by flow cytometry analysis of peripheral blood stained with pan B-cell specific (B220 clone RA3-6B2, 1∶200 dilution) and pan T-cell specific (CD3 clone 145-2C11, dilution 1∶100) antibodies.

Flow Cytometry

Single cell suspensions of murine thymi, spleens and bone marrow were prepared in Dulbecco’s phosphate-buffered saline (D-PBS) (BD Pharmingen) containing 0.5% BSA (FACS buffer). Fc receptor blocking was performed by preincubation with an unconjugated anti-Fcγ antibody (clone 2.4G2; 1 mg/ml 1∶500 for thymocytes, 1∶200 for splenocytes and bone marrow cells) for 10 minutes on ice. 10⁶ cells were then stained with cocktails of fluorochrome-conjugated antibodies appropriately diluted in FACS buffer for 30 minutes at 4°C then washed twice in 5 ml of FACS buffer. Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC), R-phycoerythrin (PE) or allophycocyonin (APC)-conjugated antibodies and dilutions used were: CD25-APC (Clone PC61.5; 1∶300), CD44-PE (Clone IM7; 1∶200), CD4-PE-Cy7 (Clone RM4-5; 1∶200), CD8-APC-Cy7 (Clone 53-6.7; 1∶200), CD3-PerCP-Cy5 (Clone 145-2C11; 1∶100), TCR-β-Alexa Fluor 700 (Clone H57-597; 1∶100), c-kit-APC (CD117) (Clone 2B8; 1∶800), Sca1-PE (Clone E13-161; 1∶100) (all from BD Pharmingen, Franklin Lakes, NJ, USA), Thy1.2-PE (Clone 30-H12 1:400), TCR-αβ-FITC (Clone H57; 1∶200), B220-PE (Clone RA3-6B2; 1∶200), Gr-1-FITC (Clone RB6-8C5; 1∶100), Mac-1-APC (Clone M1/70; 1∶200), CD4-APC (Clone GK1 1:800), CD8-FITC (Clone 53-6.7.2; 1∶400) (all from the Sunnybrook Core Hybridoma Facility, Toronto, ON, Canada). Cells were resuspended in 300 µl FACS buffer containing 1 µg/ml PI (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA, USA) for dead cell exclusion. Samples were analyzed on a FACS Calibur cytometer using CellQuest Pro software (BD Biosciences).

Reverse Transcriptase-PCR (RT-PCR) and Quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR)

Genomic DNA was purified using DNAzol (Invitrogen) and total RNA was isolated using an RNeasy kit (Qiagen, Valencia, CA, USA). Total RNA was amplified with MessageAmp™ II aRNA kit (Invitrogen) according to the manufacturer specifications. The IgHμ-TLX1 transgene was detected with the following primers: hTLX1-1560F (5′-TGGGCATCTATGGGAGAGTG-3′) and hTLX1-1799R (5′-CTGGATTGGGCTGGGATGT-3′). The following PCR conditions were used: initial denaturation at 95°C for 3 minutes; 34 cycles of denaturation (95°C) for 30 seconds, annealing (55°C) for 30 seconds, extension (72°C) for 30 seconds and a final cycle of 7 minutes at 72°C. All reactions were carried out in a 25 µl volume containing 50–100 ng genomic DNA for PCR or 10–50 ng total RNA for reverse transcribed cDNA, and 0.2 µmol of each primer, 10x buffer, 1.5 U AmpliTaq DNA Polymerase and 2.5 µM MgCl₂ (Invitrogen) using the PCR C1000 Thermal Cycler (BioRad). The identity of PCR products was verified by DNA sequencing (The Center for Applied Genomics, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON).

First-strand cDNA synthesis was performed using the SuperScript III First Strand cDNA reverse transcriptase kit and random primers (Invitrogen). qRT-PCR was performed with the QuantiTect SYBR Green PCR kit (Qiagen) according to the manufacturer’s protocol with 1 µl of the reverse transcription reaction product (from 10–50 ng total RNA) amplified for 39 cycles with an ABI PRISM 7000 Applied Biosystems Sequence Detection System and analyzed with ABI Prism 7000 SDS software (Applied Biosystems, Carlsbad, CA, USA). qRT-PCR primers are listed in Table 2.

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Table 2. List of primers.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0089649.t002

In vivo Thymocyte Proliferation Assay

Healthy IgHµ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid and age and sex matched Prkdc^Scid/Scid littermates were injected intraperitoneally with 150 µl of 10 mg/ml BrdU in sterile 1X D-PBS. Mice were sacrificed 2 and 7 hours post injection, thymi were harvested and single cell suspensions prepared in D-PBS containing 2% FBS. Cells were fixed in 80% ethanol for 30 minutes and washed in 1X D-PBS for 5 minutes. Cells were then treated with RNase (Invitrogen) and 1.5 M HCl for 30 minutes. 5×10⁵–10⁶ pretreated cells were stained with an anti-BrdU mouse monoclonal antibodies (1∶100, Trevigen, Gaithesburg, MD) for 30 minutes at 4°C, washed in 5 ml of 1X D-PBS and stained with a FITC-conjugated anti-mouse secondary antibody (1∶500, BD Pharmingen). After three washes, cells were resuspended in 300 µl 1X D-PBS and analyzed using a FACS Calibur cytometer and CellQuest Pro software.

Co-Culture of Thymocytes on OP9-DL1 Stromal Cells

GFP-expressing OP9-DL1 cells (kindly provided by Dr. Juan Carlos Zúñiga-Pflücker) were cultured in 6-well dishes (BD Falcon) to 80% confluence in αMEM (Gibco) medium containing 20% FBS (Hyclone) and 100 U/ml Penicillin/Streptomycin (Gibco). Cultures were incubated in a humidified atmosphere at 37°C with 5% CO₂. Fetal livers were dissected from E13.5 embryos and dispersed to single cell suspensions in HBSS supplemented with 10% FBS by passage through a 40 µm nylon cell strainer (BD Falcon). Ten percent of cells were used for genotyping with the remaining cells depleted of lineage-restricted cells using biotin-labeled antibodies specific for mouse lineage specific antigens (B220, CD3ε, Gr-1, Mac-1, Ter119 and F4/80; BD Pharmingen). Lineage-positive cells were bound to Miltenyi Biotec streptavidin magnetic beads and depleted using a MACS column according to manufacturer’s instructions (Miltenyi Biotech, Auburn, CA USA). Lineage negative (Lin^-) HSCs were sorted for expression of the CD117/c-kit (APC) and Sca-1 (PE) antigens on a FACS ARIA flow sorter using II FACS DIVA software (BD Biosciences). C-kit⁺Sca⁺Lin^- cells (10³) were resuspended in 3 ml of complete DMEM medium supplemented with murine Flt-3 Ligand (5 µg/ml), IL-7 (5 µg/ml) and SCF (10 µg/ml; all from R&D Systems, Minneapolis MN, USA) and plated onto an OP9-DL1 feeder layer. Cells were harvested on day-7, passed through a 70 µm cell strainer, stained with CD44 (PE) and CD25 (APC) antibodies and thymocyte subpopulations sorted as follows: CD44⁺CD25^- (DN1), CD44⁺CD25⁺ (DN2), CD44^-CD25⁺ (DN3) and CD44^-CD25^-. OP9-DL1 cells were distinguished from thymocytes based on GFP expression.

Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) Labeling and Bypass of the Spindle Cell Cycle Checkpoint

To induce mitotic arrest, day-4 IgHµ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid and Prkdc^Scid/Scid c-kit⁺Sca⁺Lin^- HSC-derived thymocytes co-cultured on OP9-DL1 were treated with 100 ng/ml colchicine overnight. BrdU was added to a final concentration of 20 µM and incubated at 37°C for 2 hours. T-lymphocytes were collected by centrifugation at 1,300 rpm for 5 minutes and fixed in 80% ethanol, followed by DNA denaturation in 2 N HCl for 1 hour at 37°C. Cells were pretreated by incubation with 1X D-PBS supplemented with 2% BSA for 1 hour at 37°C. Immunostaining was performed using an anti-BrdU antibody for 2 hours at RT, followed by staining with a FITC-conjugated anti-mouse antibody for 1 hour at RT. Counterstaining for detection of nuclei was performed with VECTASHIELD DAPI mounting medium (Vector Laboratories, Inc. Burlingame, CA). Slides were evaluated using fluorescence microscopy (Axiovert 200 M, Zeizz, GmbH, Germany). In all, 20 random fields were scored for the frequency of BrdU positive cells.

To assess spindle checkpoint bypass following mitotic arrest, day 4 IgHµ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid and Prkdc^Scid/Scid HSC-derived thymocytes, co-cultured in the OP9-DL1 system, were subjected to a double-thymidine block, treated with 100 ng/ml colchicine then harvested at 8 hour intervals, stained with PI and analyzed by flow cytometry for DNA content as previously described [35]. For each sample, 10,000 events were acquired using a FACS Calibur and cell cycle analysis was performed using FlowJo software (BD Biosciences).

Cytogenetic and Ploidy Analysis of Tumors

Primary leukemic cells were dissected from lymphoid tissues of moribund IgHµ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid mice and immediately processed to single cell suspensions. Fresh tumor samples were placed in RPMI 1640 medium (Wisent; Montreal, Quebec, Canada) containing 10% FBS. Cells were arrested in metaphase by treatment with colcemid (0.03 µg/mL; Invitrogen). Metaphase chromosomes were prepared according to standard cytogenetic protocols, using 0.075 M KCl and Carnoy’s fixative. Slides were aged overnight at 55°C then G-banded using 4X USP Pancreatin (diluted to 0.4X) followed by staining with Leishmann/Giemsa stain. 20 metaphase spreads were analyzed and imaged with a CCD camera (VDS Vosskühler GmbH) using an Olympus microscope set in bright-field mode with a 100X/N.A. 1.40 oil immersion objective. Co-ordinates were recorded for metaphase relocation following Spectral karyotyping (SKY). Prior to SKY, slides were destained with Carnoy’s fixative, rehydrated with an ethanol series, pretreated with 2X SSC at 37°C, then post-fixed with 1% formaldehyde/PBS/MgCl₂ and washed in PBS. SkyPaint™ probes were used according to the manufacturer’s instructions (Applied Spectral Imaging, Carlsbad, CA). Metaphases were viewed with an Olympus BX61 microscope (Olympus, Center Valley, USA) equipped with a SpectraCube SD300 (Applied Spectral Imaging, Migdal HaEmek, Israel). SKY images were analyzed using SkyView Version 2.1.1 (Applied Spectral Imaging).

Abnormalities in chromosome number of mitotic cells were estimated by calculating the proportion of aneuploid thymocytes and tumor cells relative to cells displaying a normal karyotype. 40 and 100 random metaphases of thymocytes and tumor cells, respectively, were photographed and chromosomes were enumerated using light microscopy (LEICA DM LB2, Bannockburn, IL, USA). Metaphase chromosome spreads were prepared using standard Geimsa staining techniques.

Histology and Immunohistochemistry

Organs isolated from moribund IgHµ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid and Prkdc^Scid/Scid mice as well as healthy IgHµ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid mice were fixed in 4% PFA overnight, paraffin embedded, sectioned and stained with hematoxylin-eosin (Sigma, St. Louis, MO, USA). A certified pathologist performed all morphological interpretations of tissue sections. Tumors were also cryopreserved in O.C.T. compound (Tissue-Tek; Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA) for cryosectioning and 5 µm sections were stained with purified rat anti-mouse Thy1.2 (clone 53-2.1; BD Pharmingen). Antibody binding was visualized using an anti-rat IgG-HRP (Santa Cruz Biotechnology) and Peroxidase Substrate Kit DAB (Vector Laboratories, Inc.). Sections were counterstained with hematoxylin 1∶5 (Fluka).

Statistics

Disease-free survival during a 25-month observation period was calculated from the date of birth to the date when mice became terminally ill using the Kaplan-Meier estimator. Column comparison analysis was performed using the logrank test with the GraphPad Prism 4 software. Student’s t-test was used to detect differences in cycling thymocytes between IgHµ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid and Prkdc^Scid/Scid cultures. All tests with p<0.05 were accepted as statistically significant.

Sample Isolation and High-density Oligonucleotide Microarray Screening

Double mutant IgHµ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid and control Prkdc^Scid/Scid mice were sacrificed at 4–8 weeks of age. DN1, DN2, DN3 and CD44^-CD25^- subpopulations were sorted based on expression of CD44 and CD25. To minimize sample variability caused by individual differences among animals, individual thymocyte subpopulations from sex-matched mice were pooled (total 10⁴–10⁵ cells). Each pool consisted of between 2–5 age- and sex-matched IgHµ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid or control Prkdc^Scid/Scid mice. The pooled cell pellets were homogenized in TRIzol reagent (Invitrogen) and stored at -80°C for total RNA isolation. Total RNA was isolated and purified with RNeasy kits according to the manufacturer’s instructions. TLX1 genotypes were confirmed prior to microarray experiments. Microarray processing was performed on the Affymetric platform according to manufacturer’s protocols.

Raw microarray CEL data files were imported to GeneSpring GX11 (Silicon Genetics, Redwood City, CA). Data was subjected to background reduction, filtered for genes flagged as Present or Marginal in at least 12.5% of samples, prior to standardization by normalization to the mean of all samples. Statistically significant differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were determined by a two-tailed, unpaired t-test, with DEGs defined as those with a p≤0.05 and a minimum average fold change of 1.4. Gene annotation queries were conducted through Affymetrix NetAffx Analysis Center, and the Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery (DAVID). Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) was performed to analyze enrichment of gene sets following the developer’s protocol (http://www.broadinstitute.org/gsea/index.jsp). Analysis was done using 1,000 gene set permutations.

Accession Code

Microarray data are available in the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) under accession number GSE47421.

Supporting Information

Figure S1.

Methodology for isolation of DN fractions for gene expression profiling. (A) Schematic representation of work flow for isolating purified DN1, DN2 and DN3 fraction from pools of Prkdc^Scid/Scid and IgHµ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid mice for gene expression profiling. (B) Characteristics of the 8 mouse cohorts analyzed in this study.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0089649.s001

(PDF)

Figure S2.

GSEA analysis shows positive enrichment for spindle components in IgHµ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid premalignant thymocytes. (A) Enrichment plots showing up-regulation of mitotic spindle and tubular formation genes in DN2 thymocytes from IgHµ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid mice. (B) Heat map depicting expression patterns of mitotic spindle and tubular formation genes in DN2 fractions of Prkdc^Scid/Scid and IgHµ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid mice. Red and blue indicate higher and lower expression, respectively.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0089649.s002

(PDF)

Table S1.

List of differentially expressed genes in IgHμ-HOX11^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid DN1 cells.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0089649.s003

(XLSX)

Table S2.

List of differentially expressed genes in IgHμ-HOX11^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid DN2 cells.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0089649.s004

(XLSX)

Table S3.

List of differentially expressed genes in IgHμ-HOX11^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid DN3 cells.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0089649.s005

(XLSX)

Acknowledgments

We thank G. Knowles, A. Khandani and the Sunnybrook Research Institute flow sorting core facilities for their assistance with cell sorting, the Sunnybrook animal facilities for their help with maintaining the mouse colonies, M. Anderson (University of Toronto) for critical reading of the manuscript, and P. Isogay and A. Goncalves (State University of Campinas, Brazil) for their guidance with statistical analysis.

Author Contributions

Conceived and designed the experiments: KK YZ AC XH MRH EC. Performed the experiments: KK YZ AC XH AKV MRH EC. Analyzed the data: KK YZ AC XH AKV VE MRH EC. Contributed reagents/materials/analysis tools: KK YZ AC XH AKV VE MRH EC. Wrote the paper: KK YZ AC XH AKV VE MRH EC.

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Figures

Abstract

Introduction

Results

Similar Premalignant Phenotypes in Young IgHμ-TLX1TgPrkdcScid/Scid and PrkdcScid/Scid Mice

Expression of the TLX1 Transgene in Thymocytes of IgHμ-TLX1TgPrkdcScid/Scid Mice

Accelerated Leukemogenesis in IgHμ-TLX1TgPrkdcScid/Scid Mice

Leukemic Thymocytes from IgHμ-TLX1TgPrkdcScid/Scid mice Exhibit Molecular Features Reminiscent of Human T-ALL

Gene Expression Profiling in Premalignant Thymocytes Reveals Dysregulated Expression of Genes Involved in Cell Cycle, Apoptosis and Chromosome Segregation

Increased Cellularity of Thymi from IgHμ-TLX1TgPrkdcScid/Scid Mice

Aneuploidy and Spindle Checkpoint Dysfunction in Premalignant Thymocytes and Thymic Tumors

Discussion

Materials and Methods

Mice

Flow Cytometry

Reverse Transcriptase-PCR (RT-PCR) and Quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR)

In vivo Thymocyte Proliferation Assay

Co-Culture of Thymocytes on OP9-DL1 Stromal Cells

Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) Labeling and Bypass of the Spindle Cell Cycle Checkpoint

Cytogenetic and Ploidy Analysis of Tumors

Histology and Immunohistochemistry

Statistics

Sample Isolation and High-density Oligonucleotide Microarray Screening

Accession Code

Supporting Information

Figure S1.

Figure S2.

Table S1.

Table S2.

Table S3.

Acknowledgments

Author Contributions

References

Similar Premalignant Phenotypes in Young IgHμ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid and Prkdc^Scid/Scid Mice

Expression of the TLX1 Transgene in Thymocytes of IgHμ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid Mice

Accelerated Leukemogenesis in IgHμ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid Mice

Leukemic Thymocytes from IgHμ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid mice Exhibit Molecular Features Reminiscent of Human T-ALL

Increased Cellularity of Thymi from IgHμ-TLX1^TgPrkdc^Scid/Scid Mice