The TLK-ASF1 histone chaperone pathway plays a critical role in IL-1β–mediated AML progression

Identifying and targeting microenvironment-driven pathways that are active across acute myeloid leukemia (AML) genetic subtypes should allow the development of more broadly effective therapies. The pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1 is abundant in the AML microenvironment and promotes leukemic growth. Through RNA-sequencing analysis, we identify that IL-1 upregulated ASF1B (anti-silencing function-1B), a histone chaperone, in AML progenitors compared to healthy progenitors. ASF1B, along with its paralogous protein ASF1A recruits H3-H4 histones onto the replication fork during S-phase, a process regulated by tousled-like kinase 1 and 2 (TLKs). While ASF1s and TLKs are known to be overexpressed in multiple solid tumors and associated with poor prognosis, their functional roles in hematopoiesis and inflammation-driven leukemia remain unexplored. In this study, we identify that ASF1s and TLKs are over-expressed in multiple genetic subtypes of AML. We demonstrate that depletion of ASF1s significantly reduces leukemic cell growth in both in vitro and in vivo models using human cells. Using a murine model we show that overexpression of ASF1B accelerates leukemia progression. Moreover, Asf1b or Tlk2 deletion delayed leukemia progression while these proteins are dispensable for normal hematopoiesis. Through proteomics and phosphoproteomics analyses, we uncover that the TLK-ASF1 pathway promotes leukemogenesis by impacting the cell cycle and DNA damage pathways. Collectively, our findings identify the TLK1-ASF1 pathway as a novel mediator of inflammatory signaling and a promising therapeutic target for AML treatment across diverse genetic subtypes. Selective inhibition of this pathway offers potential opportunities to intervene effectively, address intratumoral heterogeneity, and ultimately improve clinical outcomes in AML.