title: Overexpression of microRNA-21 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is associated with disease stage and treatment outcome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We wished to assess the association between microRNA-21 (miR-21) and disease stage and treatment outcome in patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (B-NHL).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of consecutive 128 patients with B-NHL were enrolled; 30 healthy individuals served as controls. qPCR assay was utilized to quantify expression levels of miR-21 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC; Ficoll isolation protocol). Expression of the miR-21 target, phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), was assessed by Western blot analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  miR-21 was overexpressed in PBMC of patients with B-NHL (p < 0.05 vs. healthy individuals). Furthermore, miR-21 expression levels were significantly higher in patients with the stage III/IV B-NHL (p < 0.05 vs. stage I/II B-NHL). After chemotherapy, miR-21 expression levels were significantly decreased in patients in complete remission and became comparable to those of healthy individuals. Also, miR-21 expression levels were lower in patients treated with chemotherapy combined with rituximab. There was a negative association between miR-21 overexpression and post-chemotherapy survival rates of the patients. Expression of PTEN was significantly lower in patients with B-NHL (p < 0.05 vs. healthy individuals).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overexpression of miR-21 is associated with disease stage and treatment outcome of B-NHL. This potentially involves negative modulation of PTEN.
authors.affiliation: Center for Laboratory Diagnosis, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Yantai, China. 18953569897@163.com.
authors.forename: C-M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: C-F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Luan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009365:Neoplasm Regression, Spontaneous; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase / Q000097:blood; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: C524940:MIRN21 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase; C494929:PTEN protein, human