MiRNA-340-5p mediates the functional and infiltrative promotion of tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T lymphocytes in human diffuse large B cell lymphoma

MiR-340-5p regulates PD-L1 and predicts pembrolizumab response in extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma

Extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma (ENKTL) is an aggressive, chemoresistant non-Hodgkin lymphoma subtype with poor patient outcomes linked to elevated PD-L1 expression. This study investigates miRNA-mediated regulation of PD-L1, focusing on miR-340-5p and miR-424-5p as novel therapeutic targets and predictive biomarkers for pembrolizumab response. Through miRNA sequencing and functional assays, miR-340-5p and miR-424-5p were identified as key modulators of PD-L1 in drug-resistant ENKTL cells, with their roles validated via ribonucleoprotein immunoprecipitation and luciferase reporter assays. Notably, elevated miR-340-5p levels in PD-L1-negative ENKTL tissues were inversely correlated with soluble PD-L1, implicating miR-340-5p in immune evasion mechanisms. Additionally, low serum levels of miR-340-5p were associated with reduced pembrolizumab efficacy, positioning miR-340-5p as a promising predictive biomarker for immune checkpoint blockade. These findings suggest that pre-treatment assessment of serum miR-340-5p could guide pembrolizumab therapy in ENKTL, optimizing treatment outcomes. Validation in larger cohorts is necessary to confirm the utility of miR-340-5p as a predictive biomarker for ENKTL immunotherapy.

MYC-dependent MiR-7-5p regulated apoptosis and autophagy in diffuse large B cell lymphoma by targeting AMBRA1

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the leading cause of mortality from invasive hematological malignancies worldwide. MicroRNA-7-5p (miR-7-5p) has been shown to be a tumor suppressor in several types of tumors. However, its role in DLBCL is not fully understood. This study explored the role of miR-7-5p in the progression of DLBCL and pursued the underlying mechanism. Quantitative real-time PCR and transfection of miRNA mimic and inhibitors were used to assess the effects of miR-7-5p on autophagy and apoptosis in SU-DHL-4 and SU-DHL-10 cells. Dual-luciferase reporter assay was used to identify target genes of miR-7-5p. Immunofluorescence, flow cytometry, and western blotting (WB) were performed to explore the underlying mechanism and downstream pathways of miR-7-5p and AMBRA1 in DLBCL cells. MiR-7-5p was upregulated in DLBCL cells. Luciferase reporter assays implicated AMBRA1 as a downstream target of miR-7-5p in DLBCL. WB and flow cytometry showed that an increase in miR-7-5p level and a decrease in AMBRA1 expression led to a decrease in autophagy and apoptosis-related protein expression. Furthermore, miR-7-5p prevented c-MYC dephosphorylation through AMBRA1 downregulation. On the contrary, c-MYC increased the expression of miR-7-5p, thereby establishing positive feedback on miR-7-5p transcription. The addition of hydroxychloroquine, an autophagy inhibitor, reduced autophagy and increased apoptosis in DLBCL cells. In vivo experiments further proved that the increase of miR-7-5p played a regulatory role in the expression of downstream AMBRA1 and c-MYC. These results demonstrate that c-MYC-dependent MiR-7-5p suppressed autophagy and apoptosis by targeting AMBRA1 in DLBCL cells. MiR-7-5p also suppressed autophagy and apoptosis by targeting AMBRA1 in DLBCL cells. Therefore, these data suggest that targeting miR-7-5p may be a promising strategy in DLBCL therapy.

Unraveling the interplay of CD8 + T cells and microRNA signaling in cancer: implications for immune dysfunction and therapeutic approaches

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) emerge as critical regulators of CD8 + T cell function within the complex tumor microenvironment (TME). This review explores the multifaceted interplay between miRNAs and CD8 + T cells across various cancers. We discuss how specific miRNAs influence CD8 + T cell activation, recruitment, infiltration, and effector function. Dysregulation of these miRNAs can contribute to CD8 + T cell exhaustion and immune evasion, hindering anti-tumor immunity. Conversely, manipulating miRNA expression holds promise for enhancing CD8 + T cell activity and improving cancer immunotherapy outcomes. We delve into the role of miRNAs in CD8 + T-cell function across different cancer types, including gliomas, gastric and colon cancer, oral squamous cell carcinoma, thyroid carcinoma, lymphomas, melanoma, breast cancer, renal cell carcinoma, ovarian cancer, uterine corpus endometrial cancer, bladder cancer, acute myeloid leukemia, chronic myelogenous leukemia, and osteosarcoma. Additionally, we explore how extracellular vesicles and cytokines modulate CD8 + T-cell function through complex interactions with miRNAs. Finally, we discuss the potential impact of radiotherapy and specific drugs on miRNA expression and CD8 + T-cell activity within the TME. This review highlights the immense potential of targeting miRNAs to manipulate CD8 + T-cell activity for the development of novel and improved cancer immunotherapies.

Immune checkpoints and ncRNAs: pioneering immunotherapy approaches for hematological malignancies

Hematological malignancies are typically treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy as the first-line conventional therapies. However, non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are a rapidly expanding field of study in cancer biology that influences the growth, differentiation, and proliferation of tumors by targeting immunological checkpoints. This study reviews the results of studies (from 2012 to 2024) that consider the immune checkpoints and ncRNAs in relation to hematological malignancies receiving immunotherapy. This article provides a summary of the latest advancements in immunotherapy for treating hematological malignancies, focusing on the role of immune checkpoints and ncRNAs in the immune response and their capacity for innovative strategies. The paper also discusses the function of immune checkpoints in maintaining immune homeostasis and how their dysregulation can contribute to developing leukemia and lymphoma. Finally, this research concludes with a discussion on the obstacles and future directions in this rapidly evolving field, emphasizing the need for continued research to fully harness the capacity of immune checkpoints and ncRNAs in immunotherapy for hematological malignancies.

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.

Correlation between immune microenvironment and clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of primary large B-cell lymphoma of immune-privileged sites

OBJECTIVES

To explore the correlation between tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), and tumor-associated angiogenesis (TAA) in the tumor microenvironment with the clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of primary large B-cell lymphoma of immune-privileged sites (LBCL-IP).

METHODS

A total of 46 cases of LBCL-IP from the Department of Pathology, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, from January 2010 to February 2024, were collected, along with clinical and follow-up data of LBCL-IP patients. Immunohistochemistry and triple immunofluorescence were used to detect related proteins of TAMs, TILs, and TAA, and to analyze the correlation between TAMs, TILs, TAA, and the polarization of TAMs with the clinical and prognostic factors of LBCL-IP patients.

RESULTS

There are 30 cases (65.2 %) showed high expression of CD68 proteins, 32 cases (69.6 %) showed high expression of CD163 proteins, 19 cases (41.3 %) showed high expression of CD4 proteins, 34 cases (73.9 %) showed high expression of CD8 proteins, and 25 cases (54.3 %) showed high expression of CD34 proteins. A total of 28 cases (60.9 %) showed CD68+CD163+/CD68+CD86+≥1. The chi-square tests showed that high expression of CD163 proteins was positively correlated with elevated LDH and BMG values, and the count of CD68+CD163+/CD68+CD86+≥1 was positively correlated with ECOG scores ≥2, Ann Arbor staging III-IV, and increased BMG value. High expression of CD8 proteins was positively correlated with a Ki-67 proliferation index ≥70 %, and high MVD values were positively correlated with Ann Arbor staging III-IV. The Kaplan-Meier estimator analysis showed that LBCL-IP patients with low expression of CD68 proteins, high expression of CD163 proteins, CD68+CD163+/CD68+CD86+≥1, low expression of CD8 proteins, high MVD values, ECOG scores ≥2, Ann Arbor staging III-IV, LDH ≥250 U/L, BMG ≥2.2 mg/L, and IPI scores ≥2 had shorter survival times. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that low expression of CD8 proteins, CD68+CD163+/CD68+CD86+≥1, LDH ≥250 U/L, and ECOG scores ≥2 are independent risk factors affecting the survival of LBCL-IP patients.

CONCLUSION

M2-polarized TAMs and low infiltration of CD8+ TILs were more strongly correlated with poor clinical pathological indicators and worse prognosis, and MVD values may serve as an aiding means for the diagnosis and prognostic prediction of LBCL-IP disease.

Urine miR-340-5p Predicts the Adverse Prognosis of Sepsis-Associated Acute Kidney Injury and Regulates Renal Tubular Epithelial Cell Injury by Targeting KDM4C

INTRODUCTION

Sepsis-associated acute kidney injury (SA-AKI) is a common complication of sepsis. miR-340-5p has been identified as an effective biomarker of various human diseases. As the downstream target, the involvement of lysine (K)-specific demethylase 4C (KDM4C) in SA-AKI would help interpret the regulatory mechanism of miR-340-5p. The significance of miR-340-5p in the onset and progression of SA-AKI was evaluated to provide a potential therapeutic target for SA-AKI.

METHODS

This study enrolled 64 healthy individuals (control) and 159 sepsis patients (92 SA-AKI and 67 non-AKI) and collected urine samples. The urine level of miR-340-5p was analyzed by PCR, and a series of statistical analyses were conducted to assess the clinical significance of miR-340-5p in the occurrence and development of SA-AKI. The injured renal tubular epithelial cells were established with LPS induction. The roles of miR-340-5p in cellular processes were evaluated.

RESULTS

Increasing urine miR-340-5p discriminated SA-AKI patients from healthy individuals (AUC = 0.934) and non-AKI sepsis patients (AUC = 0.806) sensitively. Additionally, elevated miR-340-5p could predict the adverse prognosis (HR = 5.128, 95% CI = 1.259-20.892) and malignant development of SA-AKI patients. In vitro, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) also induced an increased level of miR-340-5p and significant cell injury in the renal tubular epithelial cell; silencing miR-340-5p could alleviate the suppressed proliferation, migration, and invasion caused by LPS. In mechanism, miR-340-5p negatively regulated KDM4C, which mediated the function of miR-340-5p.

CONCLUSION

miR-340-5p served as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker of SA-AKI and regulated renal tubular epithelial cell injury via modulating KDM4C.

Integrated multi-omics profiling reveals the ZZZ3/CD70 axis is a super-enhancer-driven regulator of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma cell-natural killer cell interactions

Tumor immune microenvironment is crucial for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) development. However, the mechanisms by which super-enhancers (SEs) regulate the interactions between DLBCL cells and tumor-infiltrating immune cells remains largely unknown. This study aimed to investigate the role of SE-controlled genes in regulating the interactions between DLBCL cells and tumor-infiltrating immune cells. Single-cell RNA-seq, bulk RNA-seq and H3K27ac ChIP-seq data were downloaded from the Heidelberg Open Research Data database and Gene Expression Omnibus database. HOMER algorithm and Seurat package in R were used for bioinformatics analysis. Cell proliferation and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release was detected by MTS and LDH release assays, respectively. Interaction between B cell cluster and CD8+ T cell and NK cell cluster was most obviously enhanced in DLBCL, with CD70-CD27, MIF-CD74/CXCR2 complex, MIF-CD74/CD44 complex and CCL3-CCR5 interactions were significantly increased. NK cell sub-cluster showed the strongest interaction with B cell cluster. ZZZ3 upregulated the transcription of CD70 by binding to its SE. Silencing CD70 in DOHH2 cells significantly promoted the proliferation of co-cultured NK92 cells and LDH release from DOHH2 cells, which was counteracted by ZZZ3 overexpression in DOHH2 cells. CD70 silencing combined with PD-L1 blockade promoted LDH release from DOHH2 cells co-cultured with NK92 cells. In conclusion, DLBCL cells inhibited the proliferation and killing of infiltrating NK cells by regulating ZZZ3/CD70 axis. Targeting ZZZ3/CD70 axis combined with PD-L1 blockade is expected to be a promising strategy for DLBCL treatment.

Epigenetic alterations and advancement of lymphoma treatment

Lymphomas, complex and heterogeneous malignant tumors, originate from the lymphopoietic system. These tumors are notorious for their high recurrence rates and resistance to treatment, which leads to poor prognoses. As ongoing research has shown, epigenetic modifications like DNA methylation, histone modifications, non-coding RNA regulation, and RNA modifications play crucial roles in lymphoma pathogenesis. Epigenetic modification-targeting drugs have exhibited therapeutic efficacy and tolerability in both monotherapy and combination lymphoma therapy. This review discusses pathogenic mechanisms and potential epigenetic therapeutic targets in common lymphomas, offering new avenues for lymphoma diagnosis and treatment. We also discuss the shortcomings of current lymphoma treatments, while suggesting potential areas for future research, in order to improve the prediction and prognosis of lymphoma.

Let-7i enhances anti-tumour immunity and suppresses ovarian tumour growth

Cancer immunotherapy has seen significant success in the last decade for cancer management by enhancing endogenous cancer immunity. However, immunotherapies developed thus far have seen limited success in the majority of high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC) ovarian cancer patients. This is largely due to the highly immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment of HGSC and late-stage identification. Thus, novel treatment interventions are needed to overcome this immunosuppression and complement existing immunotherapies. Here, we have identified through analysis of > 600 human HGSC tumours a critical role for Let-7i in modulating the tumoural immune network. Tumoural expression of Let-7i had high positive correlation with anti-cancer immune signatures in HGSC patients. Confirming this role, enforced Let-7i expression in murine HGSC tumours resulted in a significant decrease in tumour burden with a significant increase in tumour T cell numbers in tumours. In concert with the improved tumoural immunity, Let-7i treatment also significantly increased CD86 expression in antigen presenting cells (APCs) in the draining lymph nodes, indicating enhanced APC activity. Collectively, our findings highlight an important role of Let-7i in anti-tumour immunity and its potential use for inducing an anti-tumour effect in HGSC.

MircoRNA-322-5p promotes lipopolysaccharide-induced acute kidney injury mouse models and mouse primary proximal renal tubular epithelial cell injury by regulating T-box transcription factor 21/mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-related kinase axis

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common devastating complication characterized by an abrupt loss of renal function. It is of great significance to explore promising biomarkers for AKI treatment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Here, we established LPS (lipopolysaccharide)-induced AKI mice models and LPS-induced AKI mouse renal tubular epithelial cell model. The severity of AKI was determined by the levels of BUN (blood urea nitrogen) and SCr (serum creatinine), the observation of pathological section as well as the renal tubular injury score. The apoptosis was determined by the measurement of Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 activities, and cell apoptosis assays. qRT-PCR (quantitative real-time PCR) and western blot revealed that miR-322-5p (microRNA-322-5p) was up-regulated in LPS -induced AKI models while Tbx21 (T-box transcription factor 21) was down-regulated in LPS-induced AKI models. Dual-luciferase reporter and RNA pulldown assays detected the interaction of Tbx21 with miR-322-5p.

RESULTS

We found that miR-322-5p was overtly over-expressed in the in vitro LPS-induced AKI model and promoted the apoptosis of AKI mouse renal tubular epithelial cells via inhibiting Tbx21, which suppressed the mitochondrial fission and cell apoptosis through MAPK/ERK (mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-related kinase) pathway.

CONCLUSIONS

We demonstrated that miR-322-5p promotes LPS-induced mouse AKI by regulating Tbx21/MAPK/ERK axis, which might provide new sights for AKI research.

RNA and RNA Derivatives: Light and Dark Sides in Cancer Immunotherapy

Significance: Immunotherapy, which utilizes the patient's immune system to fight tumor cells, has been approved for the treatment of some types of advanced cancer. Recent Advances: The complexity and diversity of tumor immunity are responsible for the varying response rates toward current immunotherapy strategies and highlight the importance of exploring regulators in tumor immunotherapy. Several genetic factors have proved to be critical regulators of tumor immunotherapy. RNAs, including messenger RNAs and non-coding RNAs, play vital and diverse roles in tumorigenesis, metastasis, drug resistance, and immunotherapy response. RNA modifications, including N6-methyladenosine methylation, are involved in tumor immunity. Critical Issues: A critical issue is the lack of summary of the regulatory RNA molecules and their derivatives in mediating immune activities in human cancers that could provide potential applications for tumor immunotherapeutic strategy. Future Directions: This review summarizes the dual roles (the light and dark sides) of RNA and its derivatives in tumor immunotherapy and discusses the development of RNA-based therapies as novel immunotherapeutic strategies for cancer treatment. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 37, 1266-1290.

The Role of NcRNAs to Regulate Immune Checkpoints in Cancer

At present, the incidence of cancer is becoming more and more common, but its treatment has always been a problem. Although a small number of cancers can be treated, the recurrence rates are generally high and cannot be completely cured. At present, conventional cancer therapies mainly include chemotherapy and radiotherapy, which are the first-line therapies for most cancer patients, but there are palliatives. Approaches to cancer treatment are not as fast as cancer development. The current cancer treatments have not been effective in stopping the development of cancer, and cancer treatment needs to be imported into new strategies. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) is a hot research topic at present. NcRNAs, which include microRNAs (miRNAs), circular RNAs (circRNAs), and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), participate in all aspects of cancer biology. They are involved in the progression of tumors into a new form, including B-cell lymphoma, glioma, or the parenchymal tumors such as gastric cancer and colon cancer, among others. NcRNAs target various immune checkpoints to affect tumor proliferation, differentiation, and development. This might represent a new strategy for cancer treatment.

Knockdown of zinc finger protein 267 suppresses diffuse large B-cell lymphoma progression, metastasis, and cancer stem cell properties

Zinc finger protein 267 (ZNF267) is a member of the Kruppel-like transcription factor family, which regulates various biological processes such as cell proliferation and differentiation. However, the biological significance of ZNF267 and its potential role in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) remain to be documented. Experiments were herein conducted to study the role of ZNF267 in DLBCL. real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR and Western blotting assays were conducted to detect the expression of ZNF267 in tissues and cells. Tissue microarray and bioinformatics analyses of public data were also done to detect the expression status and clinical significance of ZNF267. Functional cell experiments including CCK8 assay, colony formation assay, 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EDU) assay, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase biotin-dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay, transwell assay, and wound healing assay were conducted to study the effects of ZNF267 knockdown and overexpression on cell proliferation and mobility. Xenograft assay was also conducted to confirm the effects of ZNF267 knockdown in vivo. In the present study, we found ZNF267 was significantly upregulated in DLBCL and predicted a poor survival outcome based on the bioinformatics analysis. Functionally, the knockdown of ZNF267 resulted in less cell proliferation and mobility, whereas the overexpression led to enhanced cell proliferation and mobility. Animal experiments also confirmed that ZNF267 silence contributed to less tumor growth and less lung metastasis. Further analysis showed that ZFN267 knockdown resulted in decreased epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cancer stem cell (CSC) properties. Our results suggest that ZNF267 is an oncogene in DLBCL and its silence could compromise the aggression of DLBCL, which makes ZNF267 a promising therapeutic target.

Overexpression of microRNA-340-5p Ameliorates Inflammatory Response and Intracellular Survival of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis in Alveolar Type II Cells

Background

The importance of microRNAs (miRs) has been documented in infections. This study estimated the role of miR-340-5p in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb)-infected alveolar type II cells.

Methods

The microarray of GEO database was analyzed to find the differentially expressed miRs caused by Mtb infection, and miR-340-5p was selected as the research object. The effects of Mtb infection on A549 cells were studied by MTT, CFU, EdU, flow cytometry and ELISA assays. miR-340-5p expression was altered in Mtb-infected A549 cells. The downstream target of miR-340-5p was found by bioinformatics analysis and verified by the rescue experiment. The pathways regulated by miR-340-5p and its target gene were further studied.

Results

Mtb infection suppressed the activity of A549 cells and promoted the release of inflammatory factors. Mtb infection inhibited miR-340-5p expression. Overexpression of miR-340-5p enhanced the resistance of A549 cells to Mtb infection. Moreover, miR-340-5p targeted TMED7. Overexpression of TMED7 reversed the protective effect of miR-340-5p on Mtb-infected A549 cells. miR-340-5p inhibited the activation of NF-κB by targeting TMED7.

Conclusion

miR-340-5p inhibits the activation of NF-κB by targeting TMED7, thus alleviating the injury of A549 cells caused by Mtb infection. This study may offer a novel approach to Mtb infection.