Tyrosine kinase inhibitors modulate the expression of peroxiredoxins 1 and 2 in chronic myeloid leukemia cells

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is characterized by the presence of the BCR::ABL1 fusion protein with active tyrosine kinase activity. The BCR::ABL1 fusion protein induces the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). DNA damage caused by ROS is involved in the mechanism of CML progression. Antioxidant systems include peroxiredoxins (PRDXs), which play various roles in hematological malignancies. Although tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are known to affect ROS production, their effects on the expression of the antioxidants PRDX1 and PRDX2 remain unclear; thus, we aimed to evaluate the effects of TKIs on the expression of these PRDXs and ROS levels in CML cells. We found that TKIs, such as imatinib, nilotinib, and dasatinib, increased the gene expression of PRDX2 in K562 cells; however, only dasatinib increased the cytoplasmic protein expression of PRDX2. Additionally, while TKIs reduced the gene expression of PRDX1 in contrast to that of PRDX2, dasatinib increased the cytoplasmic protein expression of PRDX1. This discrepancy was linked to post-translational regulation through SUMOylation in cooperation with dasatinib. Our results suggest that the antioxidants PRDX1 and PRDX2 could serve as potential targets for TKIs in the treatment of CML.