RNAseq sequencing signatures of Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma cells after beta-sitosterol treatment
Resistance to Rituximab is a significant challenge in treating Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma (DLBCL).  ß-Sitosterol (ß-ST) is a plant sterol that has been found in a broad variety of fruits, spices, and medicinal plants. While the anti-neoplastic properties of ß-Sitosterol (ß-ST) are established in various solid malignancies, its impact on DLBCL is uncharted. To further investigation the mechanism of ß-ST on DLBCL, we employed RNAseq transcriptome analysis to detect differential expression genes (DEGs) between ß-ST treated and untreated DLBCL cells. Our findings indicate that ß-ST impedes DLBCL cell proliferation in a concentration and time-dependent manner. It appears to alter sphingolipid metabolism, facilitate (ASM translocation to the plasma membrane, augment ceramide platforms through increased ceramide synthesis, and consequently precipitate apoptosis in DLBCL cells. Overall design: SU-DHL-8 cells were treated with 15µM ß-ST for 24 hours, with an equal concentration of DMSO as the control, in three replicate experiments.