Paradoxical activation of chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells by ruxolitinib in vitro and in vivo

INTRODUCTION: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is characterized by an aberrant cytokine network that can support tumor growth by triggering janus kinase (JAK)/STAT pathways. Targeting cytokine-signaling should then be a rational therapeutic strategy but the JAK inhibitor ruxolitinib failed to control and seemingly accelerated the disease in clinical trials. METHODS: The effect of ruxolitinib on primary human CLL cells was studied in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS: Ruxolitinib increased phosphorylation of IRAK4, an important toll-like receptor (TLR)- signaling intermediate, in circulating CLL cells in vitro. It also enhanced p38 and NFKB1 phosphorylation while lowering STAT3 phosphorylation in CLL cells activated with TLR-7/8 agonists and IL-2. Among the cytokines made by activated CLL cells, high levels of IL-10 contributed strongly to STAT3 phosphorylation and inhibited TLR7 activity. Ruxolitinib limited TLR-mediated IL10 transcription and markedly reduced IL-10 production in vitro. It also decreased blood levels of IL-10 while increasing TNFα along with phospho-p38 expression and gene sets associated with TLR-activation in CLL cells in vivo. The bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitor ibrutinib decreased IL-10 production in vitro but, in contrast to ruxolitinib, blocked initial IL10 transcription induced by TLR-signaling in vitro, decreased TNFα production, and deactivates CLL cells in vivo. DISCUSSION: These findings suggest the possible benefits of inhibiting growth factors with JAK inhibitors in CLL are outweighed by negative effects on potential tumor suppressors such as IL-10 that allow unrestrained activation of NFκB by drivers such as TLRs. Specific inhibition of growth-promoting cytokines with blocking antibodies or infusing suppressive cytokines like IL-10 might be better strategies to manipulate cytokines in CLL.