Chapters authored
Insight into the Leukemia Microenvironment and Cell-cell Interactions Using Flow Cytometry
Cancer cells, including leukemia cells, reside in a complex microenvironment, which influences biology and activity of the cells. The protective role of bone marrow stromal cells is already commonly recognized. Remodeling of stroma cell functions by leukemia cells is also well documented. In this respect, different routes of interactions were defined, such as direct cell-cell interactions or indirect cross talk, by release of soluble factors or vesicular particles containing proteins, RNAs and other molecules. Since intercellular communication seems to play a role in various biological processes, it might be important to conduct studies in co-culture systems, which at least mimic partially more physiological conditions, and enables this intercellular exchange to occur. Thus, it is crucial to improve analytical methods of investigation of co-cultured cells, to study their interactions and so to understand biology of leukemia in order to understand molecular mechanisms and offer novel therapeutic strategies. The present chapter outlines the importance of modern, multiparameter flow cytometry methods, which allow to analyze interactions between different types of cells within the leukemia microenvironment. Importantly, the proposed experimental setups can be easily transformed to study different cell types and different biological systems.
Part of the book: Multidimensional Flow Cytometry Techniques for Novel Highly Informative Assays
Targeting of Post-Transcriptional Regulation as Treatment Strategy in Acute Leukemia
Post-transcriptional regulation is an important step of gene expression that allows to fine-tune the cellular protein profile (so called proteome) according to the current demands. That mechanism has been developed to aid survival under stress conditions, however it occurs to be hijacked by cancer cells. Adjustment of the protein profile remodels signaling in cancer cells to adapt to therapeutic treatment, thereby enabling persistence despite unfavorable environment or accumulating mutations. The proteome is shaped at the post-transcriptional level by numerous mechanisms such as alternative splicing, mRNA modifications and triage by RNA binding proteins, change of ribosome composition or signaling, which altogether regulate the translation process. This chapter is an overview of the translation disturbances found in leukemia and their role in development of the disease, with special focus on the possible therapeutic strategies tested in acute leukemia which target elements of those regulatory mechanisms.
Part of the book: Acute Leukemias