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Updated: Jul 12, 2025

Intracellular Phosphoflow Cytometry of Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patient-Derived Xenotransplants
Published on: June 6, 2025
AMPK activation induces immunogenic cell death in AML
Johanna Mondesir1,2, Margherita Ghisi3,4, Laura Poillet3,4
1Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
Activation of adenosine 5'-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) using GSK621 enhances immune responses against acute myeloid leukemia (AML). This approach promotes immunogenic cell death, offering a new avenue for AML immunotherapy.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Oncology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) improves acute myeloid leukemia (AML) survival but faces limitations.
- Current immunotherapies for AML are hindered by leukemia immune escape mechanisms.
- Novel immunostimulatory strategies are needed to overcome these challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential of activating adenosine 5'-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) as an immunostimulatory approach for AML.
- To determine if GSK621, an AMPK activator, can induce anti-leukemia immune responses.
Main Methods:
- Activation of AMPK in murine and human AML cells using the small molecule GSK621.
- Assessment of calreticulin (CALR) membrane exposure on AML cells.
- Evaluation of dendritic cell activation and maturation.
- Testing the efficacy of vaccination with GSK621-treated leukemia cells in a murine AML model.
- Investigating the role of T cells in the observed anti-leukemia effect.
Main Results:
- GSK621 treatment induced CALR membrane exposure on AML cells.
- GSK621-treated AML cells promoted dendritic cell activation and maturation.
- Vaccination with GSK621-treated AML cells conferred a protective effect in a syngeneic AML model.
- The protective effect was dependent on CD4/CD8 T cells.
Conclusions:
- Pharmacologic activation of AMPK by GSK621 induces traits of immunogenic cell death in AML cells.
- This process stimulates a robust immune response against leukemia, mediated by T cells.
- AMPK activation represents a promising new target for enhancing AML immunotherapy.
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