Dissecting Richter's Syndrome in a Multiplexed CRISPR-Based Mouse Model Reveals Key Changes in MYC, Interferon and BCR Signaling Underlying Transformation
Authors: Ten Hacken Elisa , Yin Shanye , Sewastianik Tomasz , Penter Livius , Ruthen Neil , Gruber Michaela , Parry Erin Michelle , Guieze Romain , Redd Robert A. , Uduman Mohamed , Li Shuqiang , Southard Jackson , Hernandez-Sanchez Maria , Parvin Salma , Zhu Fen , Brunsting Hoffmann Gabriela , Witten Elizabeth , Livak Kenneth J. , Davids Matthew S. , Letai Anthony G. , Neuberg Donna S. , Carrasco Ruben D. , Wu Catherine J. 
Published: November 2021

Richter's syndrome (RS) represents one of the foremost challenges in CLL management, and its pathogenesis remains largely undefined. We recently leveraged CRISPR-Cas9 in vivo gene editing to develop mouse models of RS by engineering multiplexed loss-of-function lesions typical of CLL (Atm, Trp53, Chd2, Birc3, Mga, Samhd1) in early stem and progenitor cells [Lineage - Sca-1 + c-kit + (LSK)] from MDR-Cd19Cas9 donor mice. These animals express Cas9-GFP in a B-cell restricted fashion and the leukemogenic MDR lesion, which mimics del(13q) when the sgRNA-transduced LSK cells are transplanted in CD45.1 immunocompetent recipients. Through these methods, we observed not only development of CLL, but also transformation into RS, and even captured a stage where CLL and RS were co-existing in the same animal (CLL/RS).

We hypothesized that the molecular events underlying RS development would be markedly distinct from those of CLL and performed transcriptome analysis of FACS-sorted CLL and/or RS cells (5 CLL, 4 CLL/RS, 10 RS) and normal B cell controls from 4 age-matched wild type MDR-Cd19Cas9 mice. We identified a unique transcriptional profile of RS (ANOVA, FDR&lt;0.1), characterized by upregulation of pathways involved in cell survival and proliferation (E2F/MYC targets, G2-M checkpoint, mitotic spindle). In contrast, genes involved in interferon gamma response, JAK-STAT and BCR signaling were predominantly downregulated.

We asked whether these oncogenic circuitries would be recapitulated in human RS. By correlating the differentially expressed genes in murine RS with those of 7 human RS cases (compared to matched CLL), we identified similar pathway dysregulations with &gt;100 commonly altered genes including upregulated cell cycle regulators (CDK1, CCNA2) and downregulated signaling adapters (ITPKB, MAP3K9).

To further dissect gene regulatory networks driving transformation in the mouse, we profiled one CLL and one RS case by single cell ATAC sequencing (scATAC-seq). Consistent with the RNA-seq profiles, we detected increased chromatin accessibility of MYC-family associated transcription factor motifs (MAX, MYCN), and reduced accessibility of the pro-inflammatory STAT2 motif in RS (-log10adjP&gt;50). Functionally, decreased interferon gamma responses were confirmed by the reduced ability of RS cells to phosphorylate STAT1 and STAT3 at 5' and 15' after IFN-gamma stimulation, compared to CLL and normal B cells (Western Blot).

To define the genetic landscape underlying these changes, we performed whole genome sequencing analysis, and identified loss of chr12 and chr16 as recurrent events in RS (6/8 cases) and CLL/RS (2/2), but not in CLL cases (0/5). Among the genes encoded by these chromosomes, we identified several epigenetic drivers (Dnmt3a, Crebbp, Setd3/4), MAP kinase family members (Map4k5, Mapk1), cytoskeletal regulators (Hcls1, Rhoj), and interferon family receptors (Ifnar1/2, Ifngr2), suggesting that broad epigenetic modifications together with loss of BCR and interferon signaling molecules represent key events of transforming disease. RS cases were also characterized by a significantly higher number of full chromosome amplifications or deletions (median=6; range: 2-9), as compared to CLL or CLL/RS (1; 0-5, P=0.0008), consistent with the high degree of genomic instability observed in human disease.

Finally, we asked whether the observed changes would impact RS therapeutic vulnerabilities, and exposed 15 primary murine RS splenocyte samples to 20 drugs in vitro for 24 hours, followed by CellTiter-Glo assessment of cellular viability. We observed strong sensitivity to the BRD4 inhibitor JQ1 and the mTOR inhibitor everolimus (both reported to interfere with MYC signaling, P&lt;0.0001), and to CDK inhibitors (e.g. the CDK4/6 inhibitor palbociclib, P=0.0007), modest activity of the JAK1/2 inhibitor ruxolitinib (P=0.05), and minimal, if any, response to ibrutinib, venetoclax and fludarabine.

In conclusion, we define the evolutionary trajectories and therapeutic vulnerabilities of RS in a mouse model, with unique transcriptional, genetic, and epigenetic features, indicative of broad changes in MYC, IFN and BCR signaling pathways and remarkable similarities with human disease. In-depth analyses of BCR signaling and in vivo treatment studies are underway and will refine mechanistic insights into the biology of RS.

Disclosures

Davids: Surface Oncology: Research Funding; Eli Lilly and Company: Consultancy; Genentech: Consultancy, Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy; MEI Pharma: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy; Verastem: Consultancy, Research Funding; Ascentage Pharma: Consultancy, Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Consultancy, Research Funding; TG Therapeutics: Consultancy, Research Funding; Astra-Zeneca: Consultancy, Research Funding; Merck: Consultancy; Adaptive Biotechnologies: Consultancy; Research to Practice: Consultancy; AbbVie: Consultancy; MEI Pharma: Consultancy, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding; BMS: Consultancy, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy; BeiGene: Consultancy. Letai: Dialectic Therapeutics: Other: equity holding member of the scientific advisory board; Flash Therapeutics: Other: equity holding member of the scientific advisory board; Zentalis Pharmaceuticals: Other: equity holding member of the scientific advisory board. Neuberg: Madrigal Pharmaceuticals: Other: Stock ownership; Pharmacyclics: Research Funding. Wu: Pharmacyclics: Research Funding; BioNTech: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company.