MicroRNA-181a Inhibits Activated B-Cell-Like Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma Progression by Repressing CARD11

Advances in epigenetic therapies for B-cell non-hodgkin lymphoma

B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas (B-NHLs) constitute a varied group of cancers originating from B lymphocytes. B-NHLs can occur at any stage of normal B-cell development, with most arising from germinal centres (e.g. diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, DLBCL and follicular lymphoma, FL). The standard initial treatment usually involves the chemoimmunotherapy regimen. Although there is a high initial response rate, 30-40% of high-risk patients often face relapsed or refractory lymphoma due to drug resistance. Recent research has uncovered a significant link between the development of B-NHLs and various epigenetic processes, such as DNA methylation, histone modification, regulation by non-coding RNAs, and chromatin remodeling. Therapies targeting these epigenetic changes have demonstrated considerable potential in clinical studies. This article examines the influence of epigenetic regulation on the onset and progression of B-NHLs. It discusses the current therapeutic targets and agents linked to these epigenetic mechanisms, with the goal of offering new perspectives and approaches for targeted therapies and combination chemotherapy in treating B-NHLs.

Profiling of microRNAs by next-generation sequencing: Potential biomarkers for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

BACKGROUND

Lymphoma ranks fifth in prevalence among common cancer types worldwide. This lymphatic system cancer arises from T or B cells. Diffuse large B cell lymphomas (DLBCLs) are associated with most non-Hodgkin lymphomas. Non-coding microRNAs (miRNAs) greatly affect gene expression. A single miRNA can target numerous genes, thus largely influencing gene expression networks. MiRNAs can act as oncogenes or tumor suppressors in controlling DLBCL progression. This study investigated the roles of miRNAs in patients with DLBCL through next-generation sequencing, which was found to be sensitive, accurate, and robust.

METHODS

The study involved seven patients with DLBCLs and three controls at a hematology-oncology clinic. MiRNA was extracted from existing formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue specimens. Illumina next-generation sequencing was used to sequence samples for miRNA profiling.

RESULTS

Samples from patients showed expression of various hsa-mir miRNAs (1248, 3607, 21, 142, 1244, 182, 6516, 766, 1291, 4449, and 181a), whereas those from healthy individuals showed expression of hsa-mir 1248, 3607, 21, 142, and 877. Hsa-mir-877-3p is known to target multiple genes, and miRNAs such as hsa-mir-877-3p, hsa-mir-1291, and hsa-mir-181a-5p interact primarily with target genes.

CONCLUSIONS

MiRNA profiling in FFPE tissues from patients with DLBCL suggested that miRNA levels can distinguish patients with DLBCL from controls, and therefore may provide prognostic or diagnostic biomarkers for DLBCL. Altered genes and miRNAs may also be potential therapeutic targets.

Epigenetic modulations of immune cells: from normal development to tumor progression

The dysfunction of immune cell development often impairs immunological homeostasis, thus causing various human diseases. Accumulating evidence shows that the development of different immune cells from hematopoietic stem cells are highly fine-tuned by different epigenetic mechanisms including DNA methylation, histone modifications, chromatin remodeling and RNA-related regulations. Understanding how epigenetic regulators modulate normal development of immune cells contributes to the identification of new strategies for various diseases. Here, we review recent advances suggesting that epigenetic modulations can orchestrate immune cell development and functions through their impact on critical gene expression. We also discuss the aberrations of epigenetic modulations in immune cells that influence tumor progression, and the fact that underlying mechanisms affect how epigenetic drugs interfere with tumor progression in the clinic.

Role of microRNAs in B-Cell Compartment: Development, Proliferation and Hematological Diseases

B-cell development is a very orchestrated pathway that involves several molecules, such as transcription factors, cytokines, microRNAs, and also different cells. All these components maintain the ideal microenvironment and control B-cell differentiation. MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that bind to target mRNA to control gene expression. These molecules could circulate in the body in a free form, protein-bounded, or encapsulated into extracellular vesicles, such as exosomes. The comprehension of the role of microRNAs in the B-cell development was possible based on microRNA profile of each B-cell stage and functional studies. Herein, we report the knowledge about microRNAs in the B-cell the differentiation, proliferation, and also in hematological malignancies.

Tear miRNAs Identified in a Murine Model of Sjögren's Syndrome as Potential Diagnostic Biomarkers and Indicators of Disease Mechanism

Objective

The tear miRNAome of the male NOD mouse, a model of ocular symptoms of Sjögren's syndrome (SS), was analyzed to identify unique miRNAs.

Methods

Male NOD mice, aged 12-14 weeks, were used to identify tear miRNAs associated with development of autoimmune dacryoadenitis. Age- and sex-matched male BALB/c mice served as healthy controls while age-matched female NOD mice that do not develop the autoimmune dacryoadenitis characteristic of SS were used as additional controls. Total RNA was isolated from stimulated tears pooled from 5 mice per sample and tear miRNAs were sequenced and analyzed. Putative miRNA hits were validated in additional mouse cohorts as well as in tears of SS patients versus patients with another form of dry eye disease, meibomian gland disease (MGD) using qRT-PCR. The pathways influenced by the validated hits were identified using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis.

Results

In comparison to tears from both healthy (male BALB/c) and additional control (female NOD) mice, initial analy1sis identified 7 upregulated and 7 downregulated miRNAs in male NOD mouse tears. Of these, 8 were validated by RT-qPCR in tears from additional mouse cohorts. miRNAs previously implicated in SS pathology included mmu-miR-146a/b-5p, which were significantly downregulated, as well as mmu-miR-150-5p and mmu-miR-181a-5p, which were upregulated in male NOD mouse tears. All other validated hits including the upregulated miR-181b-5p and mmu-miR-203-3p, as well as the downregulated mmu-miR-322-5p and mmu-miR-503-5p, represent novel putative indicators of autoimmune dacryoadenitis in SS. When compared to tears from patients with MGD, miRNAs hsa-miR-203a-3p, hsa-miR-181a-5p and hsa-miR-181b-5p were also significantly increased in tears of SS patients.

Conclusions

A panel of differentially expressed miRNAs were identified in tears of male NOD mice, with some preliminary validation in SS patients, including some never previously linked to SS. These may have potential utility as indicators of ocular symptoms of SS; evaluation of the pathways influenced by these dysregulated miRNAs may also provide further insights into SS pathogenesis.

miRNA- and lncRNA-Based Therapeutics for Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma: Moving towards an RNA-Guided Precision Medicine

Simple Summary

Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) is a very heterogenous class of hematological cancers, with variable patient outcomes. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop new and more effective therapeutic approaches. MiRNAs and lncRNAs have emerged as the central gene expression regulators, and their deregulation has been reported to be involved in lymphomagenesis. Given their ability to simultaneously modulate multiple targets, they provide an attractive therapeutic approach to treat NHL patients. In this review, we discuss the scientific rationale behind miRNA/lncRNA-based therapies in NHL and the different targeting technologies, such as antisense oligonucleotides, CRISPR-Cas9, and nanomedicines.

Abstract

Increasing evidence has demonstrated the functional roles of miRNAs and lncRNAs in lymphoma onset and progression, either by acting as tumor-promoting ncRNAs or as tumor suppressors, emphasizing their appeal as lymphoma therapeutics. In fact, their intrinsic ability to modulate multiple dysregulated genes and/or signaling pathways makes them an attractive therapeutic approach for a multifactorial pathology like lymphoma. Currently, the clinical application of miRNA- and lncRNA-based therapies still faces obstacles regarding effective delivery systems, off-target effects, and safety, which can be minimized with the appropriate chemical modifications and the development of tumor site-specific delivery approaches. Moreover, miRNA- and lncRNA-based therapeutics are being studied not only as monotherapies but also as complements of standard treatment regimens to provide a synergic effect, improving the overall treatment efficacy and reducing the therapeutic resistance. In this review, we summarize the fundamentals of miRNA- and lncRNA-based therapeutics by discussing the different types of delivery systems, with a focus on those that have been investigated in lymphoma in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, we described the ongoing clinical trials of novel miRNA- and lncRNA-based therapeutics in lymphoma.

miR‑451 suppresses the malignant characteristics of colorectal cancer via targeting SAMD4B

Cancer metastasis and recurrence are major causes of poor survival in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). Therefore, the biological behavior of microRNA (miR)‑451 in CRC deserves further investigation. Reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR was applied to measure the relative expression of miR‑451 in blood serum specimens from patients with CRC and CRC cells. In vitro, HCT116 cells were transfected with miR‑451 mimics, a miR‑451 inhibitor, or SAMD4B plasmids. Proliferation, migration and apoptosis were measured using CCK‑8, Transwell assays and flow cytometry, respectively. Luciferase reporter assay was used to identify targets of miR‑451 and western blotting performed to explore the internal mechanisms of miR‑451 regulation. In vivo, the effect of miR‑451 and SAMD4B plasmids on tumor growth was analyzed using a nude mouse xenograft model. Results indicated that serum miR‑451 expression was lower in patients with CRC compared with healthy controls. Patients with elevated expression of miR‑451 had longer survival times compared with those with low expression. Overexpression of miR‑451 inhibited proliferation and migration, promoted apoptosis and enhanced the sensitivity of CRC cells to chemotherapy. SAMD4B was identified as a direct target of miR‑451 using miRNA target prediction programs and dual luciferase reporter assay validated the binding site of miR‑451 in the 3‑'UTR region of SAMD4B. Further studies confirmed that miR‑451 inhibited CRC progression via targeting SAMD4B. Results indicated that miR‑451 is essential for blocking tumor growth via targeting SAMD4B in vivo and in vitro. The miR‑451/SAMD4B axis may serve as a novel therapeutic target in patients with CRC.

Development of molecular intervention strategies for B-cell lymphoma

INTRODUCTION

There are many genetic mutations involved in B-cell lymphomagenesis. These mutations contribute to the prognosis of B-cell lymphomas and can be used for and targeted for intervention.

AREAS COVERED

This review provides an overview of targeted gene therapies for B-cell lymphoma that were newly approved or are under clinical development. These include, TP53 mutations and related pathways, such as BTK inhibitors, MDM2/4 inhibitors, and XPO1 inhibitors; new drugs targeting EZH2 mutations through competitive inhibition, such as tazemetostat and GSK126; BCL-2-targeted therapeutics, including venetoclax and ABT-263; BTK, IRAK 1/4, HCK, and myddosome complex that targets the MYD88 mutation and the related pathways. In addition, we have also discussed gene mutations that have been reported as potential therapeutic targets, such as TNFAIP3, CARD11.

EXPERT OPINION

The mechanisms underlying the role of several genetic mutations in lymphomagenesis have been reported, and several studies have designed and developed drugs targeting these mutations. Many of these drugs have been approved for clinical use, while several are still under clinical development. Recent studies have identified additional genetic mutations and gene targets for BCL-2 treatment; however, effective molecular interventions targeting these new targets are yet to be developed.

Non-Coding RNAs in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma worldwide. The molecular mechanisms underlying DLBCL have not been fully elucidated, and approximately 40% of patients who undergo standard chemoimmunotherapy still present with primary refractory disease or relapse. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), a group of biomolecules functioning at the RNA level, are increasingly recognized as vital components of molecular biology. With the development of RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq) technology, accumulating evidence shows that ncRNAs are important mediators of diverse biological processes such as cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. They are also considered promising biomarkers and better candidates than proteins and genes for the early recognition of disease onset, as they are associated with relative stability, specificity, and reproducibility. In this review, we provide the first comprehensive description of the current knowledge regarding three groups of ncRNAs-microRNAs (miRNAs), circular RNAs (circRNAs), and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs)-focusing on their characteristics, molecular functions, as well as diagnostic and therapeutic potential in DLBCL. This review provides an exhaustive account for researchers to explore novel biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of DLBCL and therapeutic targets.

miRNA-Based Therapies in B Cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is a diverse class of hematological cancers, many of which arise from germinal center (GC)-experienced B cells. Thus GCs, the sites of antibody affinity maturation triggered during immune responses, also provide an environment that facilitates B cell oncogenic transformation. miRNAs provide attractive and mechanistically different strategies to treat these malignancies based on their potential for simultaneous modulation of multiple targets. Here, we discuss the scientific rationale for miRNA-based therapeutics in B cell neoplasias and review recent advances that may help establish a basis for novel candidate miRNA-based therapies for B cell-NHL (B-NHL).