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Conn VM, Chinnaiyan AM, Conn SJ. Circular RNA in cancer. Nat Rev Cancer 2024; 24:597-613. [PMID: 39075222 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-024-00721-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/31/2024]
Abstract
Over the past decade, circular RNA (circRNA) research has evolved into a bona fide research field shedding light on the functional consequence of this unique family of RNA molecules in cancer. Although the method of formation and the abundance of circRNAs can differ from their cognate linear mRNA, the spectrum of interacting partners and their resultant cellular functions in oncogenesis are analogous. However, with 10 times more diversity in circRNA variants compared with linear RNA variants, combined with their hyperstability in the cell, circRNAs are equipped to influence every stage of oncogenesis. This is an opportune time to address the breadth of circRNA in cancer focused on their spatiotemporal expression, mutations in biogenesis factors and contemporary functions through each stage of cancer. In this Review, we highlight examples of functional circRNAs in specific cancers, which satisfy critical criteria, including their physical co-association with the target and circRNA abundance at stoichiometrically valid quantities. These considerations are essential to develop strategies for the therapeutic exploitation of circRNAs as biomarkers and targeted anticancer agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa M Conn
- Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, South Australia, Australia
| | - Arul M Chinnaiyan
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Urology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Simon J Conn
- Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, South Australia, Australia.
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2
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Abohassan M, Khaleel AQ, Pallathadka H, Kumar A, Allela OQB, Hjazi A, Pramanik A, Mustafa YF, Hamzah HF, Mohammed BA. Circular RNA as a Biomarker for Diagnosis, Prognosis and Therapeutic Target in Acute and Chronic Lymphoid Leukemia. Cell Biochem Biophys 2024; 82:1979-1991. [PMID: 39136839 DOI: 10.1007/s12013-024-01404-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 10/02/2024]
Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are single-stranded RNAs that have received much attention in recent years. CircRNAs lack a 5' head and a 3' poly-A tail. The structure of this type of RNAs make them resistant to digestion by exonucleases. CircRNAs are expressed in different cells and have various functions. The function of circRNAs is done by sponging miRNAs, changing gene expression, and protein production. The expression of circRNAs changes in different types of cancers, which causes changes in cell growth, proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. Changes in the expression of circRNAs can cause the invasion and progression of tumors. Studies have shown that changes in the expression of circRNAs can be seen in acute lymphoid leukemia (ALL) and chronic lymphoid leukemia (CLL). The conducted studies aim to identify circRNAs whose expression has changed in these leukemias and their more precise function so that these circRNAs can be identified as biomarkers, prediction of patient prognosis, and treatment targets for ALL and CLL patients. In this study, we review the studies conducted on the role and function of circRNAs in ALL and CLL patients. The results of the studies show that there is a possibility of using circRNAs as biomarkers in the identification and treatment of patients in the future.
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MESH Headings
- Humans
- RNA, Circular/genetics
- RNA, Circular/metabolism
- Biomarkers, Tumor/genetics
- Biomarkers, Tumor/metabolism
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/diagnosis
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/genetics
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/metabolism
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/drug therapy
- Prognosis
- Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/diagnosis
- Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/genetics
- Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/metabolism
- Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/therapy
- RNA/metabolism
- RNA/genetics
- MicroRNAs/genetics
- MicroRNAs/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Abohassan
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulrahman Qais Khaleel
- Department of Medical Instruments Engineering, Al-Maarif University College, Al Anbar, 31001, Iraq.
| | | | - Ashwani Kumar
- Department of Life Sciences, School of Sciences, Jain (Deemed-to-be) University, Bengaluru, Karnataka, 560069, India
- Department of Pharmacy, Vivekananda Global University, Jaipur, Rajasthan, 303012, India
| | | | - Ahmed Hjazi
- Department of Medical Laboratory, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, 11942, Saudi Arabia
| | - Atreyi Pramanik
- School of Applied and Life Sciences, Ivison of Research and Innovation Uttaranchal University, Dehradun, India
| | - Yasser Fakri Mustafa
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Mosul, Mosul, 41001, Iraq
| | - Hamza Fadhel Hamzah
- Department of Medical Laboratories Technology, AL-Nisour University College, Baghdad, Iraq
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3
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Xu SM, Cheng Y, Fisher H, Janitz M. Recent advances in the investigation of fusion RNAs and their role in molecular pathology of cancer. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 2024; 168:106529. [PMID: 38246262 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocel.2024.106529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Gene fusions have had a significant role in the development of various types of cancer, oftentimes involved in oncogenic activities through dysregulation of gene expression or signalling pathways. Some cancer-associated chromosomal translocations can undergo backsplicing, resulting in fusion-circular RNAs, a more stable isoform immune to RNase degradation. This stability makes fusion circular RNAs a promising diagnostic biomarker for cancer. While the detection of linear fusion RNAs and their function in certain cancers have been described in literature, fusion circular RNAs lag behind due to their low abundance in cancer cells. This review highlights current literature on the role of linear and circular fusion transcripts in cancer, tools currently available for detecting of these chimeric RNAs and their function and how they play a role in tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Si-Mei Xu
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Yuning Cheng
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Harry Fisher
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Michael Janitz
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
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4
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Tsai HK, Gogakos T, Lip V, Tsai JM, Li YD, Fisch AS, Weiss J, Yang W, Grimmett L, DiToro D, Schaefer EJ, Lindsley RC, Tran TH, Caron M, Langlois S, Sinnett D, Pikman Y, Nardi V, Kim AS, Silverman LB, Harris MH. Outlier Expression of Isoforms by Targeted or Total RNA Sequencing Identifies Clinically Significant Genomic Variants in Hematolymphoid Tumors. J Mol Diagn 2023; 25:665-681. [PMID: 37419244 PMCID: PMC10488324 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmoldx.2023.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Recognition of aberrant gene isoforms due to DNA events can impact risk stratification and molecular classification of hematolymphoid tumors. In myelodysplastic syndromes, KMT2A partial tandem duplication (PTD) was one of the top adverse predictors in the International Prognostic Scoring System-Molecular study. In B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL), ERG isoforms have been proposed as markers of favorable-risk DUX4 rearrangements, whereas deletion-mediated IKZF1 isoforms are associated with adverse prognosis and have been extended to the high-risk IKZF1plus signature defined by codeletions, including PAX5. In this limited study, outlier expression of isoforms as markers of IKZF1 intragenic or 3' deletions, DUX4 rearrangements, or PAX5 intragenic deletions were 92.3% (48/52), 90% (9/10), or 100% (9/9) sensitive, respectively, and 98.7% (368/373), 100% (35/35), or 97.1% (102/105) specific, respectively, by targeted RNA sequencing, and 84.0% (21/25), 85.7% (6/7), or 81.8% (9/11) sensitive, respectively, and 98.2% (109/111), 98.4% (127/129), or 98.7% (78/79) specific, respectively, by total RNA sequencing. Comprehensive split-read analysis identified expressed DNA breakpoints, cryptic splice sites associated with IKZF1 3' deletions, PTD of IKZF1 exon 5 spanning N159Y in B-ALL with mutated IKZF1 N159Y, and truncated KMT2A-PTD isoforms. Outlier isoforms were also effective targeted RNA markers for PAX5 intragenic amplifications (B-ALL), KMT2A-PTD (myeloid malignant cancers), and rare NOTCH1 intragenic deletions (T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia). These findings support the use of outlier isoform analysis as a robust strategy for detecting clinically significant DNA events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harrison K Tsai
- Department of Pathology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
| | - Tasos Gogakos
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Va Lip
- Department of Pathology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jonathan M Tsai
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Yen-Der Li
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Adam S Fisch
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jonathan Weiss
- Department of Pathology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Weiping Yang
- Department of Pathology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Leslie Grimmett
- Department of Pathology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Daniel DiToro
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Eva J Schaefer
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - R Coleman Lindsley
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Thai Hoa Tran
- Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Immune Diseases and Cancers Axis, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Maxime Caron
- Immune Diseases and Cancers Axis, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Sylvie Langlois
- Immune Diseases and Cancers Axis, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Daniel Sinnett
- Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Immune Diseases and Cancers Axis, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Yana Pikman
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Valentina Nardi
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Annette S Kim
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Lewis B Silverman
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Marian H Harris
- Department of Pathology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
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Conn VM, Gabryelska M, Toubia J, Kirk K, Gantley L, Powell JA, Cildir G, Marri S, Liu R, Stringer BW, Townley S, Webb ST, Lin H, Samaraweera SE, Bailey S, Moore AS, Maybury M, Liu D, Colella AD, Chataway T, Wallington-Gates CT, Walters L, Sibbons J, Selth LA, Tergaonkar V, D'Andrea RJ, Pitson SM, Goodall GJ, Conn SJ. Circular RNAs drive oncogenic chromosomal translocations within the MLL recombinome in leukemia. Cancer Cell 2023; 41:1309-1326.e10. [PMID: 37295428 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2023.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The first step of oncogenesis is the acquisition of a repertoire of genetic mutations to initiate and sustain the malignancy. An important example of this initiation phase in acute leukemias is the formation of a potent oncogene by chromosomal translocations between the mixed lineage leukemia (MLL) gene and one of 100 translocation partners, known as the MLL recombinome. Here, we show that circular RNAs (circRNAs)-a family of covalently closed, alternatively spliced RNA molecules-are enriched within the MLL recombinome and can bind DNA, forming circRNA:DNA hybrids (circR loops) at their cognate loci. These circR loops promote transcriptional pausing, proteasome inhibition, chromatin re-organization, and DNA breakage. Importantly, overexpressing circRNAs in mouse leukemia xenograft models results in co-localization of genomic loci, de novo generation of clinically relevant chromosomal translocations mimicking the MLL recombinome, and hastening of disease onset. Our findings provide fundamental insight into the acquisition of chromosomal translocations by endogenous RNA carcinogens in leukemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa M Conn
- Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine & Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia; Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology & University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
| | - Marta Gabryelska
- Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine & Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia
| | - John Toubia
- Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology & University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; ACRF Cancer Genomics Facility, SA Pathology, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
| | - Kirsty Kirk
- Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine & Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia
| | - Laura Gantley
- Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine & Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia
| | - Jason A Powell
- Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology & University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; Adelaide Medical School, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, the University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
| | - Gökhan Cildir
- Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology & University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
| | - Shashikanth Marri
- Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine & Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia
| | - Ryan Liu
- Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine & Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia
| | - Brett W Stringer
- Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine & Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia
| | - Scott Townley
- Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine & Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia
| | - Stuart T Webb
- Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine & Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia
| | - He Lin
- Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine & Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia
| | - Saumya E Samaraweera
- Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology & University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
| | - Sheree Bailey
- Health and Biomedical Innovation, Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
| | - Andrew S Moore
- Child Health Research Centre, the University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4101, Australia; Oncology Service, Children's Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service, Brisbane, QLD 4101, Australia
| | - Mellissa Maybury
- Child Health Research Centre, the University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4101, Australia
| | - Dawei Liu
- Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology & University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
| | - Alex D Colella
- Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine & Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia; Flinders Omics Facility, College of Medicine & Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia
| | - Timothy Chataway
- Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine & Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia; Flinders Omics Facility, College of Medicine & Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia
| | - Craig T Wallington-Gates
- Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine & Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia; Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology & University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; Adelaide Medical School, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, the University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia
| | - Lucie Walters
- Adelaide Rural Clinical School, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, the University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
| | - Jane Sibbons
- Adelaide Microscopy, Division of Research and Innovation, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
| | - Luke A Selth
- Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine & Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia; Freemasons Centre for Male Health and Wellbeing, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia
| | - Vinay Tergaonkar
- Laboratory of NFκB Signalling, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A(∗)STAR), 61 Biopolis Drive, Proteos, Singapore 138673, Republic of Singapore
| | - Richard J D'Andrea
- Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology & University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
| | - Stuart M Pitson
- Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology & University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; Adelaide Medical School, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, the University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
| | - Gregory J Goodall
- Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology & University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; Adelaide Medical School, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, the University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
| | - Simon J Conn
- Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine & Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia; Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology & University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia.
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Dal Molin A, Tretti Parenzan C, Gaffo E, Borin C, Boldrin E, Meyer LH, te Kronnie G, Bresolin S, Bortoluzzi S. Discovery of fusion circular RNAs in leukemia with KMT2A::AFF1 rearrangements by the new software CircFusion. Brief Bioinform 2022; 24:6965906. [PMID: 36585787 PMCID: PMC9851293 DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbac589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 11/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Chromosomal translocations in cancer genomes, key players in many types of cancers, generate chimeric proteins that drive oncogenesis. Genomes with chromosomal rearrangements can also produce fusion circular RNAs (f-circRNAs) by backsplicing of chimeric transcripts, as first shown in leukemias with PML::RARα and KMT2A::MLLT3 translocations and later in solid cancers. F-circRNAs contribute to the oncogenic processes and reinforce the oncogenic activity of chimeric proteins. In leukemia with KMT2A::AFF1 (MLL::AF4) fusions, we previously reported specific alterations of circRNA expression, but nothing was known about f-circRNAs. Due to the presence of two chimeric sequences, fusion and backsplice junctions, the identification of f-circRNAs with available tools is challenging, possibly resulting in the underestimation of this RNA species, especially when the breakpoint is not known. We developed CircFusion, a new software tool to detect linear fusion transcripts and f-circRNAs from RNA-seq data, both in samples for which the breakpoints are known and when the information about the joined exons is missing. CircFusion can detect linear and circular chimeric transcripts deriving from the main and reciprocal translocations also in the presence of multiple breakpoints, which are common in malignant cells. Benchmarking tests on simulated and real datasets of cancer samples with previously experimentally determined f-circRNAs showed that CircFusion provides reliable predictions and outperforms available methods for f-circRNA detection. We discovered and validated novel f-circRNAs in acute leukemia harboring KMT2A::AFF1 rearrangements, leading the way to future functional studies aimed to unveil their role in this malignancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Dal Molin
- Corresponding authors: Anna Dal Molin, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Via G. Colombo, 3 - 35131, Padova, Italy. Tel.: +39 049 827 6502; Fax: +39 049 827 6209. ; Stefania Bortoluzzi, Associate Professor of Applied Biology.Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Via G. Colombo, 3 - 35131, Padova, Italy. Tel.: +39 049 827 6502; Fax: +39 049 827 6209.
| | | | - Enrico Gaffo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Cristina Borin
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy,Onco-Hematology, Stem Cell Transplant and Gene Therapy Laboratory, IRP-Istituto di Ricerca Pediatrica, Padova, Italy
| | - Elena Boldrin
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany,Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy,Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Lueder H Meyer
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | | | | | - Stefania Bortoluzzi
- Corresponding authors: Anna Dal Molin, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Via G. Colombo, 3 - 35131, Padova, Italy. Tel.: +39 049 827 6502; Fax: +39 049 827 6209. ; Stefania Bortoluzzi, Associate Professor of Applied Biology.Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Via G. Colombo, 3 - 35131, Padova, Italy. Tel.: +39 049 827 6502; Fax: +39 049 827 6209.
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7
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Larson JK, Hunter‐Schlichting DN, Crowgey EL, Mills LJ, Druley TE, Marcotte EL. KMT2A‐D
pathogenicity, prevalence, and variation according to a population database. Cancer Med 2022; 12:7234-7245. [PMID: 36479909 PMCID: PMC10067056 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.5443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The KMT2 family of genes is essential epigenetic regulators promoting gene expression. The gene family contains three subgroups, each with two paralogues: KMT2A and KMT2B; KMT2C and KMT2D; KMT2F and KMT2G. KMT2A-D are among the most frequent somatically altered genes in several different cancer types. Somatic KMT2A rearrangements are well-characterized in infant leukemia (IL), and growing evidence supports the role of additional family members (KMT2B, KMT2C, and KMT2D) in leukemogenesis. Enrichment of rare heterozygous frameshift variants in KMT2A and C has been reported in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), IL, and solid tumors. Currently, the non-synonymous variation, prevalence, and penetrance of these four genes are unknown. METHODS This study determined the prevalence of pathogenic/likely pathogenic (P/LP) germline KMT2A-D variants in a cancer-free adult population from the Genome Aggregation Database (gnomAD). Two methods of variant interpretation were utilized: a manual genomic variant interpretation and an automated ACMG pipeline. RESULTS The ACMG pipeline identified considerably fewer P/LP variants (n = 89) compared to the manual method (n = 660) in all 4 genes. Consequently, the total P/LP prevalence and allele frequency (AF) were higher in the manual method (1:112, AF = 4.46E-03) than in ACMG (1:832, AF = 6.01E-04). Multiple ancestry-exclusive P/LP variants were identified along with an increased frequency in males compared to females. Many of these variants identified in this population database are also associated with severe juvenile conditions. CONCLUSION These data demonstrate that putatively functional germline variation in these developmentally important genes is more common than previously appreciated and identification in cancer-free adults may indicate incomplete penetrance for many of these variants. Future research should examine a genetic predisposing role in IL and other pediatric cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenna K. Larson
- Deparatment of Genetic Counseling University of Minnesota Minneapolis Minnesota USA
| | - DeVon N. Hunter‐Schlichting
- Masonic Cancer Center University of Minnesota Minneapolis Minnesota USA
- Division of Pediatric Epidemiology and Clinical Research, Department of Pediatrics University of Minnesota Minneapolis Minnesota USA
| | | | - Lauren J. Mills
- Division of Pediatric Epidemiology and Clinical Research, Department of Pediatrics University of Minnesota Minneapolis Minnesota USA
| | | | - Erin L. Marcotte
- Masonic Cancer Center University of Minnesota Minneapolis Minnesota USA
- Division of Pediatric Epidemiology and Clinical Research, Department of Pediatrics University of Minnesota Minneapolis Minnesota USA
- Brain Tumor Program University of Minnesota Minneapolis Minnesota USA
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8
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Dal Molin A, Gaffo E, Difilippo V, Buratin A, Tretti Parenzan C, Bresolin S, Bortoluzzi S. CRAFT: a bioinformatics software for custom prediction of circular RNA functions. Brief Bioinform 2022; 23:6518047. [PMID: 35106564 PMCID: PMC8921651 DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbab601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Revised: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNAs), transcripts generated by backsplicing, are particularly stable and pleiotropic molecules, whose dysregulation drives human diseases and cancer by modulating gene expression and signaling pathways. CircRNAs can regulate cellular processes by different mechanisms, including interaction with microRNAs (miRNAs) and RNA-binding proteins (RBP), and encoding specific peptides. The prediction of circRNA functions is instrumental to interpret their impact in diseases, and to prioritize circRNAs for functional investigation. Currently, circRNA functional predictions are provided by web databases that do not allow custom analyses, while self-standing circRNA prediction tools are mostly limited to predict only one type of function, mainly focusing on the miRNA sponge activity of circRNAs. To solve these issues, we developed CRAFT (CircRNA Function prediction Tool), a freely available computational pipeline that predicts circRNA sequence and molecular interactions with miRNAs and RBP, along with their coding potential. Analysis of a set of circRNAs with known functions has been used to appraise CRAFT predictions and to optimize its setting. CRAFT provides a comprehensive graphical visualization of the results, links to several knowledge databases, and extensive functional enrichment analysis. Moreover, it originally combines the predictions for different circRNAs. CRAFT is a useful tool to help the user explore the potential regulatory networks involving the circRNAs of interest and generate hypotheses about the cooperation of circRNAs into the modulation of biological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Dal Molin
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Enrico Gaffo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | | | - Alessia Buratin
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.,Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Caterina Tretti Parenzan
- Onco-hematology, stem cell transplant and gene therapy laboratory, IRP-Istituto di Ricerca Pediatrica, Padova, Italy.,Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplant Division, Women and Child Health Department, Padua University Hospital
| | - Silvia Bresolin
- Onco-hematology, stem cell transplant and gene therapy laboratory, IRP-Istituto di Ricerca Pediatrica, Padova, Italy.,Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplant Division, Women and Child Health Department, Padua University Hospital
| | - Stefania Bortoluzzi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.,Interdepartmental Research Center for Innovative Biotechnologies (CRIBI), University of Padova, Padova, Italy
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9
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Babin L, Andraos E, Fuchs S, Pyronnet S, Brunet E, Meggetto F. From circRNAs to fusion circRNAs in hematological malignancies. JCI Insight 2021; 6:151513. [PMID: 34747369 PMCID: PMC8663548 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.151513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) represent a type of endogenous noncoding RNA generated by back-splicing events. Unlike the majority of RNAs, circRNAs are covalently closed, without a 5' end or a 3' poly(A) tail. A few circRNAs can be associated with polysomes, suggesting a protein-coding potential. CircRNAs are not degraded by RNA exonucleases or ribonuclease R and are enriched in exosomes. Recent developments in experimental methods coupled with evolving bioinformatic approaches have accelerated functional investigation of circRNAs, which exhibit a stable structure, a long half-life, and tumor specificity and can be extracted from body fluids and used as potential biological markers for tumors. Moreover, circRNAs may regulate the occurrence and development of cancers and contribute to drug resistance through a variety of molecular mechanisms. Despite the identification of a growing number of circRNAs, their effects in hematological cancers remain largely unknown. Recent studies indicate that circRNAs could also originate from fusion genes (fusion circRNAs, f-circRNAs) next to chromosomal translocations, which are considered the primary cause of various cancers, notably hematological malignancies. This Review will focus on circRNAs and f-circRNAs in hematological cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loelia Babin
- CRCT INSERM, UMR1037, Toulouse, France.,Toulouse III University-Paul Sabatier, UMR1037 INSERM, UMR5071 CNRS, Toulouse, France.,The Toulouse Cancer Laboratory of Excellence (TOUCAN), Toulouse, France
| | - Elissa Andraos
- CRCT INSERM, UMR1037, Toulouse, France.,Toulouse III University-Paul Sabatier, UMR1037 INSERM, UMR5071 CNRS, Toulouse, France.,The Toulouse Cancer Laboratory of Excellence (TOUCAN), Toulouse, France
| | - Steffen Fuchs
- CRCT INSERM, UMR1037, Toulouse, France.,Toulouse III University-Paul Sabatier, UMR1037 INSERM, UMR5071 CNRS, Toulouse, France.,The Toulouse Cancer Laboratory of Excellence (TOUCAN), Toulouse, France.,Department of Pediatric Oncology, Charité University Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Berlin, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Stéphane Pyronnet
- CRCT INSERM, UMR1037, Toulouse, France.,Toulouse III University-Paul Sabatier, UMR1037 INSERM, UMR5071 CNRS, Toulouse, France.,The Toulouse Cancer Laboratory of Excellence (TOUCAN), Toulouse, France
| | - Erika Brunet
- Imagine Institute INSERM Joint Research Unit 1163, Laboratory of Genome Dynamics in the Immune System, Paris, France.,Paris Descartes-Sorbonne University, Imagine Institute, Paris, France
| | - Fabienne Meggetto
- CRCT INSERM, UMR1037, Toulouse, France.,Toulouse III University-Paul Sabatier, UMR1037 INSERM, UMR5071 CNRS, Toulouse, France.,The Toulouse Cancer Laboratory of Excellence (TOUCAN), Toulouse, France
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10
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Gaffo E, Buratin A, Dal Molin A, Bortoluzzi S. Bioinformatic Analysis of Circular RNA Expression. Methods Mol Biol 2021; 2348:343-370. [PMID: 34160817 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1581-2_22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are stable RNA molecules generated by backsplicing that play regulatory functions through interaction with other RNA and proteins, as well as by encoding peptides. Dysregulation of circRNA expression can drive cancer development and progression with different mechanisms. CircRNAs are currently regarded as extremely attractive molecules in cancer research for the identification of new and possibly targetable disease regulatory networks and for the development of biomarkers for cancer diagnosis, prognosis definition, and monitoring. Using specific experimental and computational protocols, circRNAs can be identified through RNA-seq by spotting the reads spanning backsplice junctions, which are specific to circular molecules. In this chapter, we report a state-of-the-art computational protocol for a genome-wide analysis of circRNAs from RNA-seq data, which considers circRNA detection, quantification, and differential expression testing. Finally, we indicate how to determine circular transcript sequences and the resources for an in silico functional characterization of circRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrico Gaffo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Alessia Buratin
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.,Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Anna Dal Molin
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Stefania Bortoluzzi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy. .,Interdepartmental Research Center for Innovative Biotechnologies (CRIBI), University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
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11
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Large-scale circular RNA deregulation in T-ALL: unlocking unique ectopic expression of molecular subtypes. Blood Adv 2021; 4:5902-5914. [PMID: 33259601 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2020002337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are stable RNA molecules that can drive cancer through interactions with microRNAs and proteins and by the expression of circRNA encoded peptides. The aim of the study was to define the circRNA landscape and potential impact in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). Analysis by CirComPara of RNA-sequencing data from 25 T-ALL patients, immature, HOXA overexpressing, TLX1, TLX3, TAL1, or LMO2 rearranged, and from thymocyte populations of human healthy donors disclosed 68 554 circRNAs. Study of the top 3447 highly expressed circRNAs identified 944 circRNAs with significant differential expression between malignant T cells and normal counterparts, with most circRNAs displaying increased expression in T-ALL. Next, we defined subtype-specific circRNA signatures in molecular genetic subgroups of human T-ALL. In particular, circZNF609, circPSEN1, circKPNA5, and circCEP70 were upregulated in immature, circTASP1, circZBTB44, and circBACH1 in TLX3, circHACD1, and circSTAM in HOXA, circCAMSAP1 in TLX1, and circCASC15 in TAL-LMO. Backsplice sequences of 14 circRNAs ectopically expressed in T-ALL were confirmed, and overexpression of circRNAs in T-ALL with specific oncogenic lesions was substantiated by quantification in a panel of 13 human cell lines. An oncogenic role of circZNF609 in T-ALL was indicated by decreased cell viability upon silencing in vitro. Furthermore, functional predictions identified circRNA-microRNA gene axes informing modes of circRNA impact in molecular subtypes of human T-ALL.
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12
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Dal Molin A, Hofmans M, Gaffo E, Buratin A, Cavé H, Flotho C, de Haas V, Niemeyer CM, Stary J, Van Vlierberghe P, Philippé J, De Moerloose B, Te Kronnie G, Bresolin S, Lammens T, Bortoluzzi S. CircRNAs Dysregulated in Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia: CircMCTP1 Stands Out. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 8:613540. [PMID: 33490078 PMCID: PMC7815690 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.613540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML), a rare myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasm of early childhood, is characterized by clonal growth of RAS signaling addicted stem cells. JMML subtypes are defined by specific RAS pathway mutations and display distinct gene, microRNA (miRNA) and long non-coding RNA expression profiles. Here we zoom in on circular RNAs (circRNAs), molecules that, when abnormally expressed, may participate in malignant deviation of cellular processes. CirComPara software was used to annotate and quantify circRNAs in RNA-seq data of a “discovery cohort” comprising 19 JMML patients and 3 healthy donors (HD). In an independent set of 12 JMML patients and 6 HD, expression of 27 circRNAs was analyzed by qRT-PCR. CircRNA-miRNA-gene networks were reconstructed using circRNA function prediction and gene expression data. We identified 119 circRNAs dysregulated in JMML and 59 genes showing an imbalance of the circular and linear products. Our data indicated also circRNA expression differences among molecular subgroups of JMML. Validation of a set of deregulated circRNAs in an independent cohort of JMML patients confirmed the down-regulation of circOXNAD1 and circATM, and a marked up-regulation of circLYN, circAFF2, and circMCTP1. A new finding in JMML links up-regulated circMCTP1 with known tumor suppressor miRNAs. This and other predicted interactions with miRNAs connect dysregulated circRNAs to regulatory networks. In conclusion, this study provides insight into the circRNAome of JMML and paves the path to elucidate new molecular disease mechanisms putting forward circMCTP1 up-regulation as a robust example.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Dal Molin
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Mattias Hofmans
- Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.,Department of Diagnostic Sciences, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Enrico Gaffo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Alessia Buratin
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padua, Italy.,Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Hélène Cavé
- Department of Genetics, University Hospital of Robert Debré, Paris, France.,INSERM U1131, Institut de Recherche Saint-Louis, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Christian Flotho
- Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Valerie de Haas
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, Netherlands.,Dutch Childhood Oncology Group, The Hague, Netherlands
| | - Charlotte M Niemeyer
- Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Jan Stary
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Charles University and University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czechia
| | - Pieter Van Vlierberghe
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent, Ghent, Belgium.,Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jan Philippé
- Department of Diagnostic Sciences, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.,Cancer Research Institute Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Barbara De Moerloose
- Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.,Cancer Research Institute Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
| | | | - Silvia Bresolin
- Onco-Hematology, Stem Cell Transplant and Gene Therapy Laboratory, IRP-Istituto di Ricerca Pediatrica, Padua, Italy.,Department of Maternal and Child Health, Padua University, Padua, Italy
| | - Tim Lammens
- Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.,Cancer Research Institute Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Stefania Bortoluzzi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padua, Italy.,Interdepartmental Research Center for Innovative Biotechnologies, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
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13
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Zhou X, Zhan L, Huang K, Wang X. The functions and clinical significance of circRNAs in hematological malignancies. J Hematol Oncol 2020; 13:138. [PMID: 33069241 PMCID: PMC7568356 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-020-00976-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
With covalently closed circular structures, circular RNAs (circRNAs) were once misinterpreted as by-products of mRNA splicing. Being abundant, stable, highly conserved, and tissue-specific, circRNAs are recently identified as a type of regulatory RNAs. CircRNAs bind to certain miRNAs or proteins to participate in gene transcription and translation. Emerging evidence has indicated that the dysregulation of circRNAs is closely linked to the tumorigenesis and treatment response of hematological malignancies. CircRNAs play critical roles in various biological processes, including tumorigenesis, drug resistance, tumor metabolism, autophagy, pyroptosis, and ferroptosis. The N6-methyladenosine modification of circRNAs and discovery of fusion-circRNAs provide novel insights into the functions of circRNAs. Targeting circRNAs in hematological malignancies will be an attractive treatment strategy. In this review, we systematically summarize recent advances toward the novel functions and molecular mechanisms of circRNAs in hematological malignancies, and highlight the potential clinical applications of circRNAs as novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets for future exploration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangxiang Zhou
- Department of Hematology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, People's Republic of China. .,Department of Hematology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, People's Republic of China. .,School of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, People's Republic of China. .,Shandong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Lymphoma, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, People's Republic of China. .,Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Diseases, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, People's Republic of China. .,National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 251006, People's Republic of China.
| | - Linquan Zhan
- Department of Hematology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Kai Huang
- Department of Chemotherapy, Cancer Center, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin Wang
- Department of Hematology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, People's Republic of China. .,Department of Hematology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, People's Republic of China. .,School of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, People's Republic of China. .,Shandong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Lymphoma, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, People's Republic of China. .,Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Diseases, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, People's Republic of China. .,National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 251006, People's Republic of China.
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14
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Perez de Acha O, Rossi M, Gorospe M. Circular RNAs in Blood Malignancies. Front Mol Biosci 2020; 7:109. [PMID: 32676504 PMCID: PMC7333357 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2020.00109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Accepted: 05/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Circular (circ)RNAs influence a wide range of biological processes at least in part by interacting with proteins and microRNAs. CircRNAs expressed in the hematopoietic compartment have been increasingly recognized as modulators of physiological and pathological features of hematopoetic stem cell (HSC)-derived populations. In particular, several circRNAs were found to enhance or suppress tumor progression in blood malignancies such as leukemias and lymphomas. Moreover, numerous circRNAs have been proposed to help confer resistance to the conventional treatments used in hematopoietic cancers. Here, we review the most important circRNAs described thus far in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), lymphomas, and multiple myeloma (MM). We discuss the usefulness of circRNAs as diagnostic and prognostic markers and their potential value as therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia Perez de Acha
- Laboratory of Genetics and Genomics, National Institute on Aging Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Martina Rossi
- Laboratory of Genetics and Genomics, National Institute on Aging Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Myriam Gorospe
- Laboratory of Genetics and Genomics, National Institute on Aging Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
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15
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Guo SS, Li BX, Zou DB, Yang SJ, Sheng LX, Ouyang GF, Mu QT, Huang H. Tip of the iceberg: roles of circRNAs in hematological malignancies. Am J Cancer Res 2020; 10:367-382. [PMID: 32195014 PMCID: PMC7061755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2019] [Accepted: 09/23/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a new class of covalently closed RNA molecules whose 3'- and 5'-ends are linked by a back-splicing event. Emerging evidence has shown that circRNAs play a vital role in the occurrence and development of many diseases and are promising biomarkers and therapeutic targets. However, knowledge of circRNAs in hematological malignancies is limited. In this review, the biogenesis, categories, characteristics, and functions of circRNAs are summarized, especially the roles of circRNAs in hematopoiesis and hematological malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan-Shan Guo
- Ningbo Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang UniversityNingbo, Zhejiang, PR China
| | - Bi-Xia Li
- Ningbo University School of MedicineNingbo, Zhejiang, PR China
| | - Duo-Bing Zou
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Transplantation, Ningbo Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang UniversityNingbo, Zhejiang, PR China
| | - Shu-Jun Yang
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Transplantation, Ningbo Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang UniversityNingbo, Zhejiang, PR China
- Department of Hematology, Ningbo Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang UniversityNingbo, Zhejiang, PR China
| | - Li-Xia Sheng
- Department of Hematology, Ningbo Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang UniversityNingbo, Zhejiang, PR China
| | - Gui-Fang Ouyang
- Department of Hematology, Ningbo Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang UniversityNingbo, Zhejiang, PR China
| | - Qi-Tian Mu
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Transplantation, Ningbo Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang UniversityNingbo, Zhejiang, PR China
| | - He Huang
- Bone Marrow Transplantation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang UniversityHangzhou, Zhejiang, PR China
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16
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Harper KL, Mcdonnell E, Whitehouse A. CircRNAs: From anonymity to novel regulators of gene expression in cancer (Review). Int J Oncol 2019; 55:1183-1193. [PMID: 31661122 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2019.4904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2019] [Accepted: 07/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a group of non‑coding RNAs, formed mostly through a unique backsplicing mechanism. Originally proposed to be a by‑product from errors in splicing, recent studies have shown they exhibit a range of roles in regulating gene expression, including sponging of microRNAs (miRNAs), interactions with RNA‑binding proteins and regulation of transcription. Though research is still in its infancy, evidence suggests circRNA levels are tightly regulated in the cell, reinforced by dysregulated circRNAs levels being implicated in a range of diseases, including cancer and viral infection. There is growing interest in circRNAs playing specific roles in cancers, either oncogenic or as tumour suppressors, with particular focus on their potential as novel biomarkers. This review will provide an overview of circRNA biogenesis and regulation, and their potential roles in the cell, with a focus on their dysregulation in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine L Harper
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Euan Mcdonnell
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Adrian Whitehouse
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
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17
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Gaffo E, Boldrin E, Dal Molin A, Bresolin S, Bonizzato A, Trentin L, Frasson C, Debatin KM, Meyer LH, Te Kronnie G, Bortoluzzi S. Circular RNA differential expression in blood cell populations and exploration of circRNA deregulation in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Sci Rep 2019; 9:14670. [PMID: 31605010 PMCID: PMC6789028 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-50864-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2019] [Accepted: 09/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are abundantly expressed in the haematopoietic compartment, but knowledge on their diversity among blood cell types is still limited. Nevertheless, emerging data indicate an array of circRNA functions exerted through interactions with other RNAs and proteins, by translation into peptides, and circRNA involvement as regulatory molecules in many biological processes and cancer mechanisms. Interestingly, the role of specific circRNAs in leukemogenesis has been disclosed by a few studies, mostly in acute myeloid leukemia. In this study, circRNA expression in B-cells, T-cells and monocytes of healthy subjects is described, including putative new circRNA genes. Expression comparison considered 6,228 circRNAs and highlighted cell population-specific expression and exon usage patterns. Differential expression has been confirmed by qRT-PCR for circRNAs specific of B-cells (circPAX5, circAFF3, circIL4R, and circSETBP1) or T-cells (circIKZF1, circTNIK, circTXK, and circFBXW7), and for circRNAs from intronic (circBCL2) and intergenic regions that were overexpressed in lymphocytes. Starting from this resource of circRNA expression in mature blood cell populations, targeted examination identified striking and generalized upregulated expression of circPAX5, circPVT1 and circHIPK3 in pediatric B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and disclosed circRNAs with variable expression across cytogenetic subtypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrico Gaffo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Elena Boldrin
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Anna Dal Molin
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Silvia Bresolin
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Annagiulia Bonizzato
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Luca Trentin
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Chiara Frasson
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Klaus-Michael Debatin
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Lueder H Meyer
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Geertruij Te Kronnie
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
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