Different expression patterns in leukemia cells caused by decreased expression of TNF-

To design an effective antibody therapy to improve clinical outcomes in leukemia, the identification of novel cell surface antigens is needed. Herein, we demonstrate a role for transmembrane tumor necrosis factor-in leukemia. To characterize tmTNF- expression in acute leukemia, normal hematopoietic cells, and non-hematopoietic tissues, we used a monoclonal antibody, termed C1, which specifically recognizes the tmTNF- domain. We found that tmTNF- was preferentially expressed by acute leukemia and leukemia stem cells. More abundant expression correlated with poor risk stratification, extramedullary infiltration, and adverse clinical parameters. Moreover, knockdown of tmTNF-+ expression rendered leukemia cells more sensitive to chemotherapy in vitro and delay regeneration of leukemia in NODSCID mice. Targeting tmTNF- by C1 resulted in leukemia cell killing via antibody-dependent cell-mediated and complement -dependent cytotoxicity in vitro, and inhibited leukemia cell growth in vivo while simultaneously sparing normal hematopoietic cells. Notably, C1 administration impaired the regeneration of leukemia in secondary serial transplantationin to NOD-SCID mice.

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Zhou X, Zhou S, Li B, Li Q, Gao L, Li D, Gong Q, Zhu L, Wang J, Wang N, Huang L, Zhao L, Li Z, Zhou J