Differential B-cell receptor signaling requirement for adhesion of mantle cell lymphoma cells to stromal cells

Abstract

Interactions between lymphoma cells and stromal cells play a key role in promoting tumor survival and development of drug resistance. We identified differences in key signaling pathways between the JeKo-1 and REC-1 mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) cell lines, which exhibited different patterns of stromal cell adhesion and chemotactic migration towards stroma-conditioned medium. The identified adhesion-regulated genes reciprocated important aspects of microenvironment-mediated gene modulation in MCL patients. 590 genes were differently regulated between the cell lines upon adhesion to stromal cells, while 32 genes were similarly regulated in both cell lines. Regulation of B-cell Receptor (BCR) signature genes in adherent cells was specific for JeKo-1. Inhibition of BCR signaling by siRNA or clinically approved inhibitors, Ibrutinib and Acalabrutinib, decreased adhesion of JeKo-1 but not REC-1 cells to stromal cells. Cell surface levels of CXCR4 were higher in JeKo-1 cells and CXCR4 was important for migration and adhesion of JeKo-1 but not REC-1 cells. Surface levels of ICAM1 adhesion protein differ for REC-1 and JeKo-1. While ICAM1 plays a positive role in adherence of both cell lines to stromal cells, S1PR1 had an inhibitory effect. The results presented here provide a model framework for further investigation of mechanistic differences in patient-response to new pathway-specific drugs.