Lymphotoxin alpha (LTA) polymorphism is associated with prognosis of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in a Chinese population

Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Induced Protein 8: Pathophysiology, Clinical Significance, and Regulatory Mechanism

Tumor necrosis factor-α-induced protein-8 (TNFAIP8) is the earliest discovered component of TNFAIP8 family [tumor necrosis factor-α-induced protein-8 like (TIPE) family]. TNFAIP8 contains a putative death effector domain (DED) homologous to DED II in FLIP (Fas-associated death domain-like interleukin-1β-converting enzyme-inhibitory protein), which may affect cell survival/death process. Recently, it has been demonstrated that TNFAIP8 could inhibit apoptosis and autophagy in various types of cells. Moreover, TNFAIP8 level fluctuated evidently in patients with inflammatory, malignant, and autoimmune diseases, indicating that it might be an anti-apoptotic and oncogenetic protein. Herein we will review the discovery, gene/protein structure, pathophysiological functions, and clinical significance of TNFAIP8 together with its potential regulatory mechanism.

Malignant T cells express lymphotoxin α and drive endothelial activation in cutaneous T cell lymphoma

Lymphotoxin α (LTα) plays a key role in the formation of lymphatic vasculature and secondary lymphoid structures. Cutaneous T cell lymphoma (CTCL) is the most common primary lymphoma of the skin and in advanced stages, malignant T cells spreads through the lymphatic to regional lymph nodes to internal organs and blood. Yet, little is known about the mechanism of the CTCL dissemination. Here, we show that CTCL cells express LTα in situ and that LTα expression is driven by aberrantly activated JAK3/STAT5 pathway. Importantly, via TNF receptor 2, LTα functions as an autocrine factor by stimulating expression of IL-6 in the malignant cells. LTα and IL-6, together with VEGF promote angiogenesis by inducing endothelial cell sprouting and tube formation. Thus, we propose that LTα plays a role in malignant angiogenesis and disease progression in CTCL and may serve as a therapeutic target in this disease.

Association of IL10 -819C>T and -592C>A Polymorphisms with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Susceptibility: Evidence from Published Studies

Numerous studies have investigated the association of IL10 -819C>T and -592C>A polymorphisms with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) susceptibility, and yet reported conflicting results. With this in mind, we performed the current meta-analysis with an aim to verify actual causative variants underlying lymphomagenesis. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to evaluate the strength of the associations. Moreover, to explore the biological function of these polymorphisms, we also performed genotype-based mRNA expression analysis using online database derived from 270 subjects within three ethnicities. The final analysis included 11 studies with a total of 5859 NHL cases and 6893 controls for the IL10 -819C>T polymorphism, and 11 studies with 6277 cases and 7350 controls for the IL10 -592C>A polymorphism. No significant association was observed for these two polymorphisms in either the overall analysis or the stratification analyses by ethnicity and source of controls. Nevertheless, stratification analyses demonstrated a significant decreased risk associated with the IL10 -819C>T polymorphism (homozygous: OR=0.81, 95% CI=0.66-0.99, and recessive model: OR=0.80, 95%CI=0.65-0.98) and IL10 -592C>A polymorphism (homozygous: OR=0.80, 95% CI=0.66-0.99, and recessive model: OR=0.80, 95%CI=0.66-0.97) among patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Despite some limitations, this meta-analysis indicates that polymorphisms in IL10 gene may contribute to DLBCL susceptibility.

A miR-SNP of the KRT81 gene is associated with the prognosis of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

MicroRNA (miRNA), which plays an important role in tumorigenesis, can regulate post-transcriptional gene expression by binding to the 3' untranslated regions (3'-UTRs) of messenger RNAs and repressing its translation. Several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are considered to have significant impacts on susceptibility of the role these genetic polymorphisms in development of carcinogenesis through that mechanism. But few of them focus their impact on non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Therefore, we conducted this study to investigate the associations between the genetic variants and cancer risk or cancer outcome. MiRNA-related single nucleotide polymorphism (miR-SNP) sites rs3660 of KRT81, rs1044129 of RYR3, rs4901706 of f101, and rs1053667 of KIAA0423 were selected and analyzed in 210 patients in NHL to evaluate their association with cancer risk and prognosis. The results indicated that none of them is associated with the cancer risk in NHL. Otherwise KRT81 rs3660 GG type is associated with a shorter survival time (p=0.012), after being assessed by multivariate Cox analyses, its effect on prognosis was verified (p=0.003). It suggests that KRT81 rs3660 GG type is an independent prognostic marker in NHL.