Increased Vascular Permeability in the Bone Marrow Microenvironment Contributes to Disease Progression and Drug Response in Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Publication date: Available online 1 September 2017
Source:Cancer Cell
Author(s): Diana Passaro, Alessandro Di Tullio, Ander Abarrategi, Kevin Rouault-Pierre, Katie Foster, Linda Ariza-McNaughton, Beatriz Montaner, Probir Chakravarty, Leena Bhaw, Giovanni Diana, François Lassailly, John Gribben, Dominique Bonnet
The biological and clinical behaviors of hematological malignancies can be influenced by the active crosstalk with an altered bone marrow (BM) microenvironment. In the present study, we provide a detailed picture of the BM vasculature in acute myeloid leukemia using intravital two-photon microscopy. We found several abnormalities in the vascular architecture and function in patient-derived xenografts (PDX), such as vascular leakiness and increased hypoxia. Transcriptomic analysis in endothelial cells identified nitric oxide (NO) as major mediator of this phenotype in PDX and in patient-derived biopsies. Moreover, induction chemotherapy failing to restore normal vasculature was associated with a poor prognosis. Inhibition of NO production reduced vascular permeability, preserved normal hematopoietic stem cell function, and improved treatment response in PDX.

Graphical abstract

Teaser

Passaro et al. show that acute myeloid leukemia, mainly via nitric oxide (NO), causes bone marrow vascular abnormalities and that failure to restore normal vasculature after induction chemotherapy is associated with a poor prognosis. Importantly, inhibition of NO production improves treatment response in vivo.


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