ALBERT

Description: Introduction Amplification of chromosome 13q31 is a frequent occurrence in lymphoma and solid tumors. The C13orf25 gene at 13q31.3 is the primary miRNA transcript for seven miRNAs. This specific cluster of miRNAs is sequentially related to the homologous miR-106a-92 cluster on chromosome X and the miR-106b-25 cluster on chromosome 7. The miR17-92 cluster has been shown to be over expressed in various non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL). As a specific group of miRNAs which are derived from the same primary miRNA transcript, each miRNA in the cluster may be expected to show a similar expression level. However expression patterns vary markedly in different cancers. Aim of study To compare the expression pattern of the C13orf25 gene and the miRNAs in normal and malignant B-cells. Methods and Materials 51 cases of Ann Abour stage I and II primary diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) were collected together with 29 cases of B-CLL. All samples were examined for expression of miRNA miR-18a, -19, -20a, 17-3p, -17-5p and -92 and the C13orf 25 gene. Expression levels of the mature miRNAs were determined by qRT-PCR using Taqman miRNA assays. The level of C13orf25 was also determined by qRT-PCR using random primers and a Sybergreen probe. Results were compared by using 2−ΔCt and 2−ΔΔCt. Normal B-cell subpopulations were isolated from fresh tonsils obtained during routine pediatric tonsillectomies. B-cell subsets were stained accordingly and sorted by FACS. Results Comparison of the miRNA pattern (2−ΔCt) revealed that DLBCL have the highest expression level of miR-19b and that B-CLL shows a relative high expression level of miR-92. Normal naïve, germinal center and memory B-cells all show a similar expression pattern with miR-92 having the highest expression level. Remarkably a low expression level of miR-19b is seen in all three B-cell populations in contrast to DLBCL. Comparing the relative expression levels (2−ΔΔCt) of both NHL for each individual miRNA shows that B-CLL has a significantly higher level of expression for miR-19a. In DLBCL miR-17-5p, miR-18a and miR-20a have the highest expression levels. Currently 20 Mantle cell lymphoma are also being analyzed for the C13orf25 miRNAs cluster. Conclusion Our results show that both of the NHL B-cell malignancies and the B-cell subsets have different expression patterns of the individual levels of the 7 miRNAs contained in the same C13orf25 cluster. The relative expression levels of certain miRNAs from the same primary transcript are different in various NHL. Although there are no marked differences in the normal B-cell subsets for the C13orf25 cluster, further profiling revealed various different expression levels of other miRNAs. These findings may point towards a difference in processing efficiency or stability of miRNAs in the C13orf25 cluster leading to differences in pathogenesis specific for each malignancy even in cells of similar origin and differentiation stage.

Description: MiRNAs are a new class of small RNAs, of 19–23 nucleotides that were discovered less than two decades ago. These tiny RNAs can negatively regulate genes at the post-transcriptional level by either triggering translational repression or direct cleavage of mRNAs. It has become evident that miRNAs are involved in hematopoiesis and that the aberrant expression of miRNAs may give rise to hematopoietic malignancies. The aim of our study was to characterize the miRNA profile of naïve, germinal center and memory B cells sorted from tonsils and review expression of selected miRNAs in tonsils and in B cell malignancies by miRNA in situ hybridization (ISH). Quantitative (q)RT-PCR profiling revealed that several miRNAs were elevated in germinal center B cells, including miR-17–5p, miR-106a and miR-181b. miR-150 was one of the most abundant miRNAs in all subsets, but the expression level was more than 10 fold lower in germinal center B cell as compared to the other two subsets. MiRNA ISH on tonsillar tissue sections confirmed findings from the profiling work, and at the same time depicted differences in staining intensities within germinal centers. According to miRNA ISH, expression levels of miR-17-5p, miR-106a, and miR-181b were indeed higher in germinal center B cells as compared to naïve and memory B cells in the mantle zone. Surprisingly, we also observed gradual decrease of miR-17-5p, miR-106a, and miR-181b staining from dark to light zone in the germinal centers. Moreover, miRNA ISH with a probe for miR-150 demonstrated an interesting staining pattern in lymph node tissue sections. Naïve and memory B cells located in the mantle zone showed a higher miR-150 expression as compared to most of the cells in the germinal centers. However, within the germinal centers a minority of cells showed a much stronger cytoplasmic staining in part of the blasts located specifically in the dark zone. This indicated that part of the centroblasts have a high expression level of miR-150. The level of miR-150 was surprisingly low in 22 B cell lymphoma cell lines, irrespective of germinal center or non germinal center B cell origin. This seemingly negative association of miR-150 with proliferation suggests a role in B cell growth/death. We observed an inverse expression pattern of miR-150 and Survivin in the germinal centers by miRNA ISH and immunohistochemistry. Moreover, induction of miR-150 using synthetic mature miR-150 duplex resulted in reduced Survivin expression levels. Our results suggested that aside the experimentally proven target c-Myb, Survivin may also be regulated by miR-150. In conclusion, we have revealed a unique miRNA profile of naïve, germinal center and memory B cells sorted from normal tonsils and the results were confirmed by miRNA ISH. Within the germinal centers a marked difference was observed between the light zone and the dark zone.

Description: Abstract: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small (22–23nt) noncoding RNAs, which negatively regulate gene expression by inhibiting protein translation. MiRNAs play an important role in various cellular processes such as hematopoiesis. Deregulated expression is associated with development of B-cell lymphomas. The aim of this study was to define miRNA expression profiles to identify differentially expressed miRNAs in normal B cell subsets and malignancies derived from these subsets. Using Agilent Human miRNA microarrays the expression levels of 556 miRNAs were determined in 7 Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), 7 Follicular lymphoma (FL), 7 paediatric Burkitt lymphoma (BL) and 13 Chronic lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL; 8 ZAP70 pos and 5 ZAP70 neg) cases, as well as in naïve, germinal center (GC), memory B cells and plasma cells obtained from 3 paediatric tonsils. Median normalisation was performed on all array data using GeneSpring GX 9.0.5. Differentially expressed miRNAs were defined by at least a four fold difference using ANOVA (p40), and 79 miRNAs downregulated, including miR-150, miR-155, miR-15, miR-16, miR- 17-5p, miR-21 and miR-222. In comparison with GC B cells FL showed 11 upregulated miRNAs, e.g. miR-143 and miR-145 (fold change 〉40) and 49 downregulated miRNAs. In comparison with memory B cells 21 miRNAs in the CLL group were upregulated, including miR-143 and miR-145 (fold change 〉 40) and 83 miRNAs were downregulated. Finally MCL was compared to the naïve B cells and showed 23 upregulated miRNAs with miR-126 showing the highest fold change (〉40) and 70 downregulated miRNAs. In conclusion, we have identified specific miRNA profiles for MCL, BL, FL and CLL and also for normal B cell subsets. The differentially expressed miRNA profiles contain several miRNAs that have been shown to be directly or indirectly involved in B cell malignancies but also contain new potentially interesting miRNAs. We also have found several miRNAs that may play a tumor specific role in BL and it can be speculated that miRNAs contained in this profile may target genes related to the more aggressive clinical phenotype of BL.

Description: Introduction: B cell Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (B-CLL) is characterized by the accumulation of nonproliferating mature-appearing lymphocytes in the blood, marrow, lymph nodes, and spleen. B-CLL behaves like leukemia and is found mostly in the blood. The expression of ZAP-70 and mutation status of the immunoglobulin heavy-chain gene (IgH) can serve as prognostic markers in B-CLL. ZAP-70 positive cases usually present with unmutated IgH genes and have a bad prognosis, whereas ZAP-70 negative cases mostly present with mutated IgH genes and have good prognosis. Gene expression studies of B-CLL indicated that the profile of IgH mutated and unmutated cases are similar to normal memory B cells. Several studies showed that miRNAs play important roles in pathogenesis of B-CLL and some miRNAs correlate with the prognosis in B-CLL. B-SLL is considered to be the same disease entity as CLL, but this variant is found mostly in bone marrow and the lymphatic system. The most aggressive type of B-SLL is characterized by neoplastic cells that are more responsive to B-cell receptor signaling and are characterized by proliferation centers (PCs), a potentially important site of neoplastic cell stimulation. Until now, only a few reports have been published about the ZAP-70 expression and IgH mutation status and no data are available about the microRNA expression profile. Methods: 33 B-SLL cases were retrieved from the pathology files. ZAP-70 expression was analyzed by using immunohistochemistry. IgH mutation status was determined using PCR followed by direct sequencing. Cases with homology of ≥98% with germline sequences were considered as unmutated and cases with homologies