Disruption of follicular dendritic cells-follicular lymphoma cross-talk by the pan-PI3K inhibitor BKM120 (Buparlisib).

PURPOSE: To uncover the signaling pathways underlying follicular lymphoma-follicular dendritic cells (FL-FDC) cross-talk and its validation as new targets for therapy.

EXPERIMENTAL

DESIGN

FL primary cells and cell lines were cocultured in the presence or absence of FDC. After 24 and 48 hours, RNA was isolated from FL cells and subjected to gene expression profiling (GEP) and data meta-analysis using DAVID and GSEA softwares. Blockade of PI3K pathway by the pan-PI3K inhibitor BKM120 (buparlisib; Novartis Pharmaceutical Corporation) and the effect of PI3K inhibition on FL-FDC cross-talk were analyzed by means of ELISA, RT-PCR, human umbilical vein endothelial cell tube formation, adhesion and migration assays, Western blot, and in vivo studies in mouse FL xenografts.

RESULTS

GEP of FL-FDC cocultures yields a marked modulation of FL transcriptome by FDC. Pathway assignment by DAVID and GSEA software uncovered an overrepresentation of genes related to angiogenesis, cell adhesion, migration, and serum-response factors. We demonstrate that the addition of the pan-PI3K inhibitor BKM120 to the cocultures was able to downregulate the expression and secretion of proangiogenic factors derived from FL-FDC cocultures, reducing in vitro and in vivo angiogenesis. Moreover, BKM120 efficiently counteracts FDC-mediated cell adhesion and impedes signaling and migration induced by the chemokine CXCL12. BKM120 inhibits both constitutive PI3K/AKT pathway and FDC- or CXCL12-induced PI3K/AKT pathway, hampers FDC survival signaling, and reduces cell proliferation of FL cells in vitro and in mouse xenografts.

CONCLUSIONS

These data support the use of BKM120 in FL therapy to counteract microenvironment-related survival signaling in FL cells.