Ismail, Wazim Mohammed

Abstract TET2 mutations (mTET2) are common genetic events in myeloid malignancies and clonal hematopoiesis. These mutations arise in the founding clone and are implicated in many clinical sequelae associated with oncogenic feedforward inflammatory circuits. However, the direct downstream effector of mTET2 responsible for the potentiation of these inflammatory circuits is unknown. To address this, we performed scRNA-seq and scATAC-seq in patients with COVID-19 with and without TET2-mutated clonal hematopoiesis reasoning that inflammation from COVID-19 may highlight critical downstream transcriptional targets of mTET2. Using this approach, we identified metastasis-associated lung adenoma transcript 1 (MALAT1), a therapeutically tractable lncRNA, as a central downstream effector of mTET2 that is both necessary and sufficient to induce the oncogenic proinflammatory features of mTET2 in vivo. We also elucidate the mechanism by which mTET2 upregulate MALAT1 and describe an interaction between MALAT1 and p65, which leads to RNA “shielding” from protein phosphatase 2A dephosphorylation, thus preventing resolution of inflammatory signaling. Significance: This work identifies MALAT1 as a requisite downstream effector of oncogenic feedforward inflammatory circuits necessary for the development of TET2-mutated CH and fulminant myeloid malignancy. We elucidate a novel mechanism by which MALAT1 “shields” p65 from dephosphorylation to potentiate this circuit and nominate MALAT1 inhibition as a future therapeutic strategy.

Abstract Background DNMT3A and TET2 are epigenetic regulator genes commonly mutated in age-related clonal hematopoiesis (CH). Despite having opposing epigenetic functions, these mutations are associated with increased all-cause mortality and a low risk for progression to hematological neoplasms. While individual impacts on the epigenome have been described using different model systems, the phenotypic complexity in humans remains to be elucidated. Results Here we make use of a natural inflammatory response occurring during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), to understand the association of these mutations with inflammatory morbidity and mortality. We demonstrate the age-independent, negative impact of DNMT3A mutant CH on COVID-19-related cytokine release severity and mortality. Using single cell proteogenomics we show that DNMT3A mutations involve myeloid and lymphoid cells. Using single cell multiomics sequencing, we identify cell-specific gene expression changes associated with DNMT3A mutations, along with significant epigenomic deregulation affecting enhancer accessibility, resulting in overexpression of IL32, a proinflammatory cytokine that can result in inflammasome activation in monocytes and macrophages. Finally, we show with single cell resolution that the loss of function of DNMT3A is directly associated with increased chromatin accessibility in mutant cells. Conclusions We demonstrate the negative prognostic impact of DNMT3Amt CH on COVID-19 related inflammatory morbidity and mortality. DNMT3Amt CH involves myeloid and lymphoid cells and in the context of COVID-19, was associated with inflammatory transcriptional priming, resulting in overexpression of IL32. This overexpression was secondary to increased chromatic accessibility, specific to DNMT3Amt CH cells. DNMT3Amt CH can serve as a potential biomarker for adverse inflammatory outcomes.

The snATAC + snRNA platform allows epigenomic profiling of open chromatin and gene expression with single-cell resolution. The most critical assay step is to isolate high-quality nuclei to proceed with droplet-base single nuclei isolation and barcoding. With the increasing popularity of multiomic profiling in various fields, there is a need for optimized and reliable nuclei isolation methods, mainly for human tissue samples. Herein we compared different nuclei isolation methods for cell suspensions, such as peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC, n = 18) and a solid tumor type, ovarian cancer (OC, n = 18), derived from debulking surgery. Nuclei morphology and sequencing output parameters were used to evaluate the quality of preparation. Our results show that NP-40 detergent-based nuclei isolation yields better sequencing results than collagenase tissue dissociation for OC, significantly impacting cell type identification and analysis. Given the utility of applying such techniques to frozen samples, we also tested frozen preparation and digestion (n = 6). A paired comparison between frozen and fresh samples validated the quality of both specimens. Finally, we demonstrate the reproducibility of scRNA and snATAC + snRNA platform, by comparing the gene expression profiling of PBMC. Our results highlight how the choice of nuclei isolation methods is critical for obtaining quality data in multiomic assays. It also shows that the measurement of expression between scRNA and snRNA is comparable and effective for cell type identification.

e17535 Background: High-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC) is the most frequent and deadliest type of ovarian cancer (OC). With the recent advances in transcriptomic and epigenomic profiling of cancer at single cell resolution, it has become clear that intra-tumor heterogeneity driven by genetic and epigenetic factors may be the basis of drug resistance. Current treatments are not homogeneously effective against all the cancer cell subpopulations, thus enabling resistance. With single cell sequencing technology, characterization of cell signatures and regulatory mechanisms may translate to prognostic markers and novel drug targets. Methods: The transcriptomic and epigenomic landscape of HGSOC was mapped for five tumor samples from debulking surgeries and one tissue patient-derived xenograft (PDX) using the 10X genomics sequencing platform. This strategy permits the combination of single cell ATAC-seq and single cell RNA-seq within the same nucleus (Multiome). Isolation of nuclei, library preparation and sequencing were performed following 10X genomics protocols. Sample quality and library quality were assessed by nuclear morphology and fragment size analysis, respectively. Sequenced reads were mapped to the human genome and downstream analysis including copy number variant prediction, pathway enrichment, motif enrichment and gene regulatory network analysis were performed. The sampled patients continue to be followed for clinical outcomes, such as response to therapy. Clinical data including patient age, grade, and stage of cancer, debulking status, CA-125 levels, and neoadjuvant status, were used in conjunction with the genomics data to characterize patient specific molecular regulatory signatures. Results: Cells from the six samples (total N= 26,421) were projected via UMAP. Immune and stromal cells were shown to cluster by cell-type while cancer cells clustered by patient. Cancer cells were identified as cycling cells, ciliated cells, cells with enrichment of the JAK-STAT signaling pathway, and cells exhibiting cancer stemness signatures. Transcription factor motifs and binding-site enrichment in open chromatin regions reveal transcription regulation-based subpopulations. Using the combined gene expression and open chromatin information from these cells, there is potential to uncover the genetic regulatory network(s) that drives treatment resistance. Conclusions: With single cell technology, specific clusters of cancer and tumor microenvironment cells can be classified. Beyond characterizing patient specific signatures, multiome enables the discovery of genomic, transcriptomic and epigenomic signatures that provide insight in tumor progression and treatment resistance.

Abstract Ovarian cancer is one of the most common gynecologic malignancies, with high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC) as the most frequent and deadliest type of ovarian cancer (OC). With the recent advances in cancer epigenomic profiling, it has become clear that intra-tumor heterogeneity driven by genetic and epigenetic factors may be the basis of resistance, where current treatments could efficiently target sub-populations of cells while a sub-group may be resistant, or prone to develop resistance. With epigenomic profiling and single cell sequencing technology, we aim to characterize cell signatures that translate as prognostic markers and novel drug targets. We have mapped the epigenomic landscape of HGSC in 12 patient-derived xenografts (PDX), and their metastatic counterparts (circulating tumor cells and ascites present in the PDX models) using an assay for transposase-accessible chromatin (or ATAC-seq) and compared it with normal fallopian tube organoids to identify tumor and metastatic-specific regulatory elements. We also performed RNA-seq to validate potential transcriptional dependencies associated with resistance to chemotherapy. In order to identify potentially chemotherapy-resistant subpopulations and further validate the activity of some of the transcription factors that can be driving resistance, we performed single cell multiomic profiling using the 10x Multiome sequencing platform (scRNA+scATAC from the same nuclei) in HGSC patient samples and PDX. Finally, we performed immunohistochemistry of patient tissue slides for target markers and correlated it with overall survival in OC patients. As previously suggested, a subset of cancer clonal cells can drive treatment resistance and metastasis and result in poor patient outcomes. Data derived from PDX ATAC-seq showed a cancer stem cell signature driven by SOX2 in metastatic samples compared to the paired PDX primary tumor, suggesting a role for SOX2 in disease progression. Interestingly, SOX2 expression in epithelial cells in the Multiome analysis is more patient-specific than other stem cell markers, like CD133. We also observed that SOX2 expression negatively correlated with prognosis. These data, taken together, point out the promising role of SOX2 as a prognostic and targetable marker for HGSC. Citation Format: Leticia Assad Maia Sandoval, Wazim Mohammed Ismail, Amelia Mazzone, Amik Munankarmy, Jagneet Kaur, Tsering Tashi, Xiaonan Hou, Nagarajan Kannan, Ann Oberg, Scott H. Kaufmann, Saravut John Weroha, Alexandre Gaspar-Maia. Single cell multiomic profiling of high-grade serous carcinoma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 4724.

Abstract Background: COVID-19 causes significant morbidity and mortality, albeit with considerable heterogeneity among affected individuals. It remains unclear which host factors determine disease severity and survival. Given the propensity of clonal hematopoiesis (CH) to promote inflammation in healthy individuals, we investigated its effect on COVID-19 outcomes. Methods: We performed a multi-omics interrogation of the genome, epigenome, transcriptome, and proteome of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from COVID-19 patients (n=227). We obtained clinical data, laboratory studies, and survival outcomes. We determined CH status and TET2-related DNA methylation. We performed single-cell proteogenomics to understand clonal composition in relation to cell phenotype. We interrogated single-cell gene expression in isolation and in conjunction with DNA accessibility. We integrated these multi-omics data to understand the effect of CH on clonal composition, gene expression, methylation of cis-regulatory elements, and lineage commitment in COVID-19 patients. We performed shRNA knockdowns to validate the effect of one candidate transcription factor in myeloid cell lines. Results: The presence of CH was strongly associated with COVID-19 severity and all-cause mortality, independent of age (HR 3.48, 95% CI 1.45-8.36, p=0.005). Differential methylation of promoters and enhancers was prevalent in TET2-mutant, but not DNMT3A-mutant CH. TET2-mutant CH was associated with enhanced classical/intermediate monocytosis and single-cell proteogenomics confirmed an enrichment of TET2 mutations in these cell types. We identified cell-type specific gene expression changes associated with TET2 mutations in 102,072 single cells (n=34). Single-cell RNA-seq confirmed the skewing of hematopoiesis towards classical and intermediate monocytes and demonstrated the downregulation of EGR1 (a transcription factor important for monocyte differentiation) along with up-regulation of the lncRNA MALAT1 in monocytes. Combined scRNA-/scATAC-seq in 43,160 single cells (n=18) confirmed the skewing of hematopoiesis and up-regulation of MALAT1 in monocytes along with decreased accessibility of EGR1 motifs in known cis-regulatory elements. Using myeloid cell lines for functional validation, shRNA knockdowns of EGR1 confirmed the up-regulation of MALAT1 (in comparison to wildtype controls). Conclusions: CH is an independent prognostic factor in COVID-19 and skews hematopoiesis towards monocytosis. TET2-mutant CH is characterized by differential methylation and accessibility of enhancers binding myeloid transcriptions factors including EGR1. The ensuing loss of EGR1 expression in monocytes causes MALAT1 overexpression, a factor known to promote monocyte differentiation and inflammation. These data provide a mechanistic insight to the adverse prognostic impact of CH in COVID-19. Citation Format: Moritz Binder, Terra L. Lasho, Wazim Mohammed Ismail, Nana A. Ben-Crentsil, Jenna A. Fernandez, Minsuk Kim, Susan M. Geyer, Amelia Mazzone, Christy M. Finke, Abhishek A. Mangaonkar, Jeong-Heon Lee, Kwan Hyun Kim, Vernadette A. Simon, Fariborz Rakhshan Rohakthar, Amik Munankarmy, Susan M. Schwager, Jonathan J. Harrington, Melissa R. Snyder, Nathalie M. Droin, Eric Solary, Keith D. Robertson, Eric D. Wieben, Eric Padron, Nicholas Chia, Alexandre Gaspar-Maia, Mrinal M. Patnaik. Enhancer deregulation inTET2-mutant clonal hematopoiesis is associated with increased COVID-19 severity and mortality [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 806.

Abstract Background: SARS-Cov-2 infections are associated with increased mortality and morbidity, largely due to inflammatory cascades and cytokine release syndrome (CRS). Clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) is defined by the presence and subsequent expansion of somatic, leukemia-associated driver mutations in apparently healthy individuals with normal blood counts. CHIP has been associated with increased inflammation, with cytokines such as IL1-b, IL6 and TNF-a being elevated at baseline in affected individuals. We hypothesized that the presence of CHIP in patients with COVID-19 would result in excessive inflammation-related mortality and morbidity. Methods: We used the Mayo Clinic COVID-19 database to identify patients with COVID-19 on whom peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were available for research use (IRB approved). We carried out target-capture next generation sequencing for 220 CH related genes, by previously described methods (1000 x coverage, variant allele fraction/VAF detection limit >0.5%; Kusne Y et al AJH 2021). CHIP was defined by the presence of a CH mutation with a VAF>1% in an individual with normal baseline blood counts. Demographics, blood counts, and inflammatory markers (CRP and cytokine levels- ELISA assay) at COVID-19 diagnosis and during follow-up (as clinically indicated) were collected. COVID-19 disease severity was classified based on the presence and severity of CRS, graded using the Penn Grading Scale (Porter et. al., 2018), and the WHO ordinal scale (WHO Blueprint, 2020). We used Fisher's exact test and the Wilcoxon rank sum test to compare categorical and continuous variables. Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method. We accounted for differences in age and sex using multivariable-adjusted proportional hazards regression models. Results: Seventy-two CHIP mutations were detected in 56 (25%) of the 227 patients with COVID-19 that had PBMC available; median age 69 years (range; 42-99 years), 61% male. Fifteen (26%) patients had 2 CHIP mutations, while 1 patient had 3 CHIP mutations. Common mutations encountered included DNMT3A (32%) , TET2 (19%) , SF3B1 (8%) , ASXL1 (6%) , MPL (5%) , and TP53 (5%; Figure 1A). COVID-19 patients with CHIP were older in age (median 69 vs 57 years; p<0.0001) and had higher baseline MCP-1 (p=0.04) levels. However, there were no differences in sex, comorbidities, blood counts, IL1-b, IL6 and TNF-a levels between the two groups. The median follow-up for the entire cohort was 9 months. The relative change from baseline in blood counts and inflammatory markers (CRP and cytokines) during follow-up was similar in CHIP and non-CHIP patients, with the exception that COVID-19-onset neutropenia was more common in CHIP patients (8% vs 1%; p=0.017) compared to those without CHIP. At last follow up neutropenia had resolved in all patients. Both groups had comparable number of patients with CRS (61% CHIP vs 53% non-CHIP patients, p=0.354, Figure 1B), however, CHIP patients had more severe CRS (median Penn Grade 3 versus 2 in non-CHIP, p=0.018, Figure 1C). Based on the WHO ordinal scale, CHIP patients were more likely to experience hospitalization with severe disease and death (61% versus 45% in non-CHIP, p = 0.049). Moreover, COVID-19 CHIP patients experienced worse overall survival in comparison to patients without CHIP (median 13.1 months vs not reached, p<0.001, Figure 1D). This association remained consistent after adjusting for age and sex at the time of COVID-19 diagnosis (HR 3.15, 95% 1.32 - 7.55, p = 0.010). At last follow-up, 22 deaths were documented: 13 (23%) in patients with CHIP and 9 (5%) in the non-CHIP group (p=0.02), with the primary cause for mortality being hypoxic respiratory failure (62% in CHIP vs 44% non-CHIP, p=0.04). Conclusions: In this study, we observe an age-independent impact of CHIP on COVID-19 associated inflammatory morbidity (CRS) and mortality (hypoxemic respiratory failure). We are currently carrying out detailed single cell (ssDNA, RNA and ATAC-seq) and proteomic studies (O-link PEA assays) to better elucidate this pathophysiology. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Patnaik: Kura Oncology: Research Funding; StemLine: Research Funding.

Abstract Background: Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) is an aging disease that arises on the background of clonal hematopoiesis, commonly involving multiple TET2 mutations or TET2/SRSF2 co-mutations. In a prior study of 1084 CMML patients (Leukemia 2020; 34:1407-1421), we demonstrated a high prevalence of TET2 mutations (56%) in CMML, with approximately 30% of patients having >1 TET2 mutation. The cell-type and allele specific distribution of these mutations remains of great interest and are thus far poorly defined. To visualize the genotypic and immunophenotypic correlates, we performed single-cell DNA analysis and simultaneous protein profiling on 2 CMML patients with multiple TET2 mutations. Methods: After Mayo Clinic IRB approval, two CMML patients with dual TET2 mutations and available peripheral blood mononuclear cells were included in the study. Patient samples were labeled with TotalSeq TM -D Heme Oncology Cocktail (BioLegend, San Diego, CA) consisting of 45 unique oligo-conjugated cell surface markers. The samples were then washed and loaded into a Tapestri microfluidics cartridge, where single cells (3,500 cells/µL) were encapsulated, lysed and barcoded using the MissionBio Myeloid custom amplicon panel consisting of 312 amplicons in 45 genes relevant to myeloid disorders (MissionBio, San Francisco, CA). The individual barcoded DNA and protein for each cell was purified, recovered, and labeled with Illumina i5/i7 indices, quanitifed by Agilent Bioanalyzer and pooled for sequencing. The libraries were sequenced via Illumina NovaSeq by the Mayo Genomics Core, and data was recovered and analyzed using MissionBio Tapestri Insights v3.0.2. Results: Two dual TET2 mutated CMML patients were included in the study, both male, ages 79 and 83, and both with CMML-0. Case 1 had TET2 p.G1172Efs*53 (variant allele fraction/VAF-6%) and p.H1732Tfs*13 (VAF-13%) mutations, while case 2 had TET2 p.Y620Ffs* (VAF-85%), p.G898* (VAF-82%), and SRSF2 p.95H (VAF-45%) mutations, respectively. In both patients, TET2 mutations were found to be preferentially distributed in monocytes (CD11b+, CD14+, CD64+, CD13+, CD33+, HLA-DR+), with very few classically defined granulocyte (CD16+,CD13+.CD33+, HLA-DR neg), B (CD19+,CD22+)/T (CD2+,CD4+,CD5+,CD7+) lymphocytes, NK cells (CD16+/CD56+/HLA-DR neg) and plasma cells (CD38+/CD138+), demonstrating mutant TET2. Among monocytes, TET2 mutations were enriched in classical/M01 (CD11b+, CD14+,CD16-) and intermediate/M02 monocytes and were infrequent in the MO3 fraction, commensurate with monocyte repartitioning seen in CMML. Interestingly, a large number of single cells with TET2 mutations also demonstrated an aberrant surface phenotype, with universal expression of CD14+ and CD11b+, along with a mixture of other markers (CD163+, CD11c, CD4+, CD2+, and/or CD56+). With regards to allelic distribution, while several permutations and combination were seen involving heterozygosity and homozygosity for the TET2 mutations identified on bulk sequencing, data was corroborative for both TET2 mutations being located on trans alleles. Conclusions: In this study, we demonstrate that TET2 mutations in CMML are highly enriched in classical circulating monocytes and infrequently occur in classical granulocytes, B/T and NK cells; with multiple TET2 mutations most commonly co-existing on trans alleles. Analyses on additional samples along with copy number variation assessments are ongoing. Figure 1: Lollipop plot of TET2 exons with dual TET2 mutations labeled above and oxygenase domain labeled in green; below are number of cells identified with each genotype for Case 1 (A) and Case 2 (B). Mutations are labeled proximal (yellow) and distal (red) and alleles are in grey. The directionality of the arrows to different genotypes is based on decreasing cell number and genotype. Uniform manifold approximation and projection (UMAP) plot of Case 1 (C) and Case 2 (D) with cells clustered by immunophenotype and labeled by genotype (non TET-2 mutated purple, heterozygous TET2 in green, homozygous TET2 in yellow). Relative protein expression of T-cell phenotype (CD14-, CD3+, CD4+/-,CD8+/-, CD5+, CD7+, CD2+), or classical monocytes (CD14+/CD16-) for Case 1 (E & F) and Case 2 (G & H) overlayed on UMAP. Royal blue represents non TET2-mutated cells, and mutated cells are labeled in pastel blue, green and light orange by mutation type. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Durruthy-Durruthy: Mission Bio Inc.: Current Employment. Arribas-Layton: Mission Bio, Inc.: Current Employment. Patnaik: StemLine: Research Funding; Kura Oncology: Research Funding.

Abstract Considerable efforts have been made to characterize active enhancer elements, which can be annotated by accessible chromatin and H3 lysine 27 acetylation (H3K27ac). However, apart from poised enhancers that are observed in early stages of development and putative silencers, the functional significance of cis-regulatory elements lacking H3K27ac is poorly understood. Here we show that macroH2A histone variants mark a subset of enhancers in normal and cancer cells, which we coined ‘macroH2A-Bound Enhancers’, that negatively modulate enhancer activity. We find macroH2A variants enriched at enhancer elements that are devoid of H3K27ac in a cell type-specific manner, indicating a role for macroH2A at inactive enhancers to maintain cell identity. In following, reactivation of macro-bound enhancers is associated with oncogenic programs in breast cancer and its repressive role is correlated with the activity of macroH2A2 as a negative regulator of BRD4 chromatin occupancy. Finally, through single cell epigenomic profiling, we show that the loss of macroH2A2 leads to increased cellular heterogeneity that may help to explain the role of macroH2A variants in defining oncogenic transcriptional dependencies.