The biological and clinical behaviors of hematological malignancies can be influenced by the active crosstalk with an altered bone marrow (BM) microenvironment. In the present study, we provide a detailed picture of the BM vasculature in acute myeloid leukemia using intravital two-photon microscopy. We found several abnormalities in the vascular architecture and function in patient-derived xenografts (PDX), such as vascular leakiness and increased hypoxia. Transcriptomic analysis in endothelial cells identified nitric oxide (NO) as major mediator of this phenotype in PDX and in patient-derived biopsies. Moreover, induction chemotherapy failing to restore normal vasculature was associated with a poor prognosis. Inhibition of NO production reduced vascular permeability, preserved normal hematopoietic stem cell function, and improved treatment response in PDX.
Keywords: NOS inhibitors; acute myeloid leukemia; chemotherapy; endothelial cells; hematopoietic stem cells; hypoxia; intravital 2P microscopy; microenvironment; nitric oxide; vascular permeability.
Copyright © 2017 The Francis Crick Institute. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.