title: A Circulating microRNA Signature Predicts Age-Based Development of Lymphoma.
abstract: Extensive epidemiological data have demonstrated an exponential rise in the incidence of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) that is associated with increasing age. The molecular etiology of this remains largely unknown, which impacts the effectiveness of treatment for patients. We proposed that age-dependent circulating microRNA (miRNA) signatures in the host influence diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) development. Our objective was to examine tumor development in an age-based DLBCL system using an inventive systems biology approach. We harnessed a novel murine model of spontaneous DLBCL initiation (Smurf2-deficient) at two age groups: 3 and 15 months old. All Smurf2-deficient mice develop visible DLBCL tumor starting at 15 months of age. Total miRNA was isolated from serum, bone marrow and spleen and were collected for all age groups for Smurf2-deficient mice and age-matched wild-type C57BL/6 mice. Using systems biology techniques, we identified a list of 10 circulating miRNAs being regulated in both the spleen and bone marrow that were present in DLBCL forming mice starting at 3 months of age that were not present in the control mice. Furthermore, this miRNA signature was found to occur circulating in the blood and it strongly impacted JUN and MYC oncogenic signaling. In addition, quantification of the miRNA signature was performed via Droplet Digital PCR technology. It was discovered that a key miRNA signature circulates throughout a host prior to the formation of a tumor starting at 3 months old, which becomes further modulated by age and yielded calculation of a 'carcinogenic risk score'. This novel age-based circulating miRNA signature may potentially be leveraged as a DLBCL risk profile at a young age to predict future lymphoma development or disease progression as well as for potential innovative miRNA-based targeted therapeutic strategies in lymphoma.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology/Oncology, Molecular Oncology Research Institute, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.
authors.forename: Afshin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Beheshti
authors.affiliation: Harvard NeuroDiscovery Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vanderburg
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research Center, Hampton University, Hampton, Virginia, United States of America.
authors.forename: J Tyson
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: McDonald
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Development, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America.
authors.forename: Charusheila
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ramkumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Development, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America.
authors.forename: Tatenda
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kadungure
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Development, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Marlene & Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center, Department of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America.
authors.forename: Ronald B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Gartenhaus
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology/Oncology, Molecular Oncology Research Institute, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.
authors.forename: Andrew M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Evens
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000378:metabolism; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000209:etiology*; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013154:Spleen / Q000378:metabolism; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / Q000172:deficiency
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs; C533325:Smurf2 protein, mouse; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases