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EBV persistence in gastric cancer cases conventionally classified as EBER-ISH negative. Infect Agent Cancer 2022; 17:57. [DOI: 10.1186/s13027-022-00469-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) causes various B-cell lymphomas and epithelial malignancies, including gastric cancer (GC) at frequencies ranging from 5 to 10% in adenocarcinomas (ADK) to 80% in GC with lymphoid stroma (GCLS). Using high-sensitivity methods, we recently detected EBV traces in a large cohort of EBV-negative B-cell lymphomas, suggesting a hit-and-run mechanism.
Methods
Here, we used routine and higher-sensitivity methods [droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) for EBV segments on microdissected tumour cells and RNAscope for EBNA1 mRNA] to assess EBV infection in a cohort of 40 GCs (28 ADK and 12 GCLS).
Results
ddPCR documented the presence of EBV nucleic acids in rare tumour cells of several cases conventionally classified as EBV-negative (ADK, 8/26; GCLS, 6/7). Similarly, RNAscope confirmed EBNA1 expression in rare tumour cells (ADK, 4/26; GCLS, 3/7). Finally, since EBV induces epigenetic changes that are heritable and retained after complete loss of the virus from the host cell, we studied the methylation pattern of EBV-specifically methylated genes (Timp2, Eya1) as a mark of previous EBV infection. Cases with EBV traces showed a considerable level of methylation in Timp2 and Eya1 genes that was similar to that observed in EBER-ISH positive cases and greater than cases not featuring any EBV traces.
Conclusions
These findings suggest that: (a) EBV may contribute to gastric pathogenesis more widely than currently acknowledged and (b) indicate the methylation changes as a mechanistic framework for how EBV can act in a hit-and-run manner. Finally, we found that the viral state was of prognostic significance in univariate and multivariate analyses.
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Mundo L, Del Porro L, Granai M, Siciliano MC, Mancini V, Santi R, Marcar L, Vrzalikova K, Vergoni F, Di Stefano G, Schiavoni G, Segreto G, Onyango N, Nyagol JA, Amato T, Bellan C, Anagnostopoulos I, Falini B, Leoncini L, Tiacci E, Lazzi S. Frequent traces of EBV infection in Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphomas classified as EBV-negative by routine methods: expanding the landscape of EBV-related lymphomas. Mod Pathol 2020; 33:2407-2421. [PMID: 32483241 PMCID: PMC7685982 DOI: 10.1038/s41379-020-0575-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2019] [Revised: 05/04/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is linked to various B-cell lymphomas, including Burkitt lymphoma (BL), classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) at frequencies ranging, by routine techniques, from 5 to 10% of cases in DLBCL to >95% in endemic BL. Using higher-sensitivity methods, we recently detected EBV traces in a few EBV-negative BL cases, possibly suggesting a "hit-and-run" mechanism. Here, we used routine and higher-sensitivity methods (qPCR and ddPCR for conserved EBV genomic regions and miRNAs on microdissected tumor cells; EBNA1 mRNA In situ detection by RNAscope) to assess EBV infection in a larger lymphoma cohort [19 BL, 34 DLBCL, 44 cHL, 50 follicular lymphomas (FL), 10 T-lymphoblastic lymphomas (T-LL), 20 hairy cell leukemias (HCL), 10 mantle cell lymphomas (MCL)], as well as in several lymphoma cell lines (9 cHL and 6 BL). qPCR, ddPCR, and RNAscope consistently documented the presence of multiple EBV nucleic acids in rare tumor cells of several cases EBV-negative by conventional methods that all belonged to lymphoma entities clearly related to EBV (BL, 6/9 cases; cHL, 16/32 cases; DLBCL, 11/30 cases), in contrast to fewer cases (3/47 cases) of FL (where the role of EBV is more elusive) and no cases (0/40) of control lymphomas unrelated to EBV (HCL, T-LL, MCL). Similarly, we revealed traces of EBV infection in 4/5 BL and 6/7 HL cell lines otherwise conventionally classified as EBV negative. Interestingly, additional EBV-positive cases (1 DLBCL, 2 cHL) relapsed as EBV-negative by routine methods while showing EBNA1 expression in rare tumor cells by RNAscope. The relapse specimens were clonally identical to their onset biopsies, indicating that the lymphoma clone can largely loose the EBV genome over time but traces of EBV infection are still detectable by high-sensitivity methods. We suggest EBV may contribute to lymphoma pathogenesis more widely than currently acknowledged.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Mundo
- Section of Pathology, Department of Medical Biotechnology, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Leonardo Del Porro
- Section of Pathology, Department of Medical Biotechnology, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Massimo Granai
- Section of Pathology, Department of Medical Biotechnology, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Maria Chiara Siciliano
- Section of Pathology, Department of Medical Biotechnology, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Virginia Mancini
- Section of Pathology, Department of Medical Biotechnology, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Raffaella Santi
- Section of Pathology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Lynnette Marcar
- BioMaterials Cluster, Bernal Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
- Ireland, Health Research Institute (HRI), University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Katerina Vrzalikova
- Institute of immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | | | | | - Gianluca Schiavoni
- Section of Haematology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, University and Hospital of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Giovanna Segreto
- Section of Pathology, Department of Medical Biotechnology, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Noel Onyango
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Therapeutics, Unit of Medical Oncology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Joshua Akelo Nyagol
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Therapeutics, Unit of Medical Oncology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Teresa Amato
- Section of Pathology, Department of Medical Biotechnology, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Cristiana Bellan
- Section of Pathology, Department of Medical Biotechnology, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | | | - Brunangelo Falini
- Section of Haematology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, University and Hospital of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Leoncini
- Section of Pathology, Department of Medical Biotechnology, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Enrico Tiacci
- Section of Haematology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, University and Hospital of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
| | - Stefano Lazzi
- Section of Pathology, Department of Medical Biotechnology, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
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Epstein-Barr Virus Promotes B Cell Lymphomas by Manipulating the Host Epigenetic Machinery. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12103037. [PMID: 33086505 PMCID: PMC7603164 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12103037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV)-induced lymphomas have a significant global incidence, given the widespread infection to the human population. EBV adopts several mechanisms to replicate and persist in the host, by hijacking its epigenetic machinery. The main topic of this review details the current insights of EBV interactions with the host epigenetic system, and it will be discussed the potential relationship between the EBV-induced chronic inflammation and the dysregulation of epigenetic modifiers that might lead to tumorigenesis. Promising novel therapies against several types of cancer involve the use of epigenetic modifier inhibitors. To design new therapeutical strategies targeting lymphomas, it is crucial to conduct exhaustive reaserch on the regulation of these enzymes. Abstract During the past decade, the rapid development of high-throughput next-generation sequencing technologies has significantly reinforced our understanding of the role of epigenetics in health and disease. Altered functions of epigenetic modifiers lead to the disruption of the host epigenome, ultimately inducing carcinogenesis and disease progression. Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) is an endemic herpesvirus that is associated with several malignant tumours, including B-cell related lymphomas. In EBV-infected cells, the epigenomic landscape is extensively reshaped by viral oncoproteins, which directly interact with epigenetic modifiers and modulate their function. This process is fundamental for the EBV life cycle, particularly for the establishment and maintenance of latency in B cells; however, the alteration of the host epigenetic machinery also contributes to the dysregulated expression of several cellular genes, including tumour suppressor genes, which can drive lymphoma development. This review outlines the molecular mechanisms underlying the epigenetic manipulation induced by EBV that lead to transformed B cells, as well as novel therapeutic interventions to target EBV-associated B-cell lymphomas.
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Küçük C, Wang J, Xiang Y, You H. Epigenetic aberrations in natural killer/T-cell lymphoma: diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic implications. Ther Adv Med Oncol 2020; 12:1758835919900856. [PMID: 32127923 PMCID: PMC7036507 DOI: 10.1177/1758835919900856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2019] [Accepted: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer/T-cell lymphoma (NKTCL) is an aggressive malignancy that usually presents in the upper aerodigestive tract. This malignancy shows substantial geographic variability in incidence, and is characterized by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infections. Epigenetic aberrations may dysregulate the expression of genes involved in different hallmarks of cancer. A growing body of evidence underscores the importance of epigenetic aberrations in the pathogenesis of NKTCL. Promoter hypermethylation is a common epigenetic mechanism for the inactivation of tumour suppressor genes. Several epigenetically silenced tumour suppressor candidates (e.g. PRDM1, BIM) were identified in this aggressive cancer using locus-specific and genome-wide promoter methylation analyses. Importantly, genes involved in epigenetic modifications were identified to be mutated (e.g. KMT2D) or methylated (e.g. TET2) in NKTCL patients, which may contribute to pathogenesis through global alterations in chromatin states. Cancer-associated microRNAs, some of which are expressed by EBV, and long noncoding RNAs have been observed to be dysregulated in NKTCL. This review focuses on studies investigating epigenetic aberrations in NKTCL to bolster our overall understanding of the role of these abnormalities in disease pathobiology. We also discuss the potential of these epigenetic aberrations to improve diagnosis and prognosis as well as reveal novel targets of therapy for NKTCL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Can Küçük
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Institute of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Junli Wang
- Department of Reproduction and Genetics, the Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, Guangxi, China
| | - Ying Xiang
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital & Chongqing Cancer Institute & Chongqing Cancer Hospital, Chongqing, China
| | - Hua You
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Institute of Guangzhou Medical University, No.78 Heng-Zhi-Gang Road, Yue Xiu District, Guangzhou 510095, China
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A transcriptional signature associated with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in the blood of patients with Q fever. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0217542. [PMID: 31181104 PMCID: PMC6557487 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0217542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2018] [Accepted: 05/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Coxiella burnetii, the agent causing Q fever, has been associated with B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). To better clarify this link, we analysed the genetic transcriptomic profile of peripheral blood leukocytes from patients with C. burnetii infection to identify possible links to lymphoma. Microarray analyses revealed that 1189 genes were expressed differently (p <.001 and fold change ≥4) in whole blood of patients with C. burnetii infection compared to controls. In addition, 95 genes expressed in patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and in patients with C. burnetii persistent infection have allowed us to establish the 'C. burnetii-associated NHL signature'. Among these, 33 genes previously found modulated in C. burnetii-associated -NHL by the microarray analysis were selected and their mRNA expression levels were measured in distinct C. burnetii-induced pathologies, namely, acute Q fever, focalized persistent infection, lymphadenitis and C.burnetii-associated NHL. Specific genes involved in anti-apoptotic process were found highly expressed in leukocytes from patients with C. burnetii associated-NHL: MIR17HG, REL and SP100. This signature differed from that found for NHL-control group. Patients with C. burnetii lymphadenitis presented significant elevated levels of BCL2 and ETS1 mRNAs. Altogether, we identified a specific transcriptionnal signature for NHL during C. burnetii infection reflecting the up-regulation of anti-apoptotic processes and the fact that lymphadenitis might constitute a critical step towards lymphomagenesis.
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Microbial Agents as Putative Inducers of B Cell Lymphoma in Sjögren's Syndrome through an Impaired Epigenetic Control: The State-of-The-Art. J Immunol Res 2019; 2019:8567364. [PMID: 30723750 PMCID: PMC6339763 DOI: 10.1155/2019/8567364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2018] [Revised: 11/28/2018] [Accepted: 12/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Understanding the mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is crucially important in order to be able to discriminate the steps that lead to B cell transformation and promptly identify the patients at risk of lymphomagenesis. The aim of this narrative review is to describe the evidence concerning the role that infections or dysbiosis plays in the epigenetic control of gene expression in SS patients and their possible involvement in B cell lymphomagenesis. Materials and Methods We searched the PubMed and Google Scholar databases and selected a total of 92 articles published during the last 25 years that describe experimental and clinical studies of the potential associations of microbiota and epigenetic aberrations with the risk of B cell lymphoma in SS patients. Results and Discussion The genetic background of SS patients is characterized by the hyperexpression of genes that are mainly involved in regulating the innate and adaptive immune responses and oncogenesis. In addition, salivary gland epithelial cells and lymphocytes both have an altered epigenetic background that enhances the activation of proinflammatory and survival pathways. Dysbiosis or chronic latent infections may tune the immune response and modify the cell epigenetic machinery in such a way as to give B lymphocytes an activated or transformed phenotype. It is also worth noting that transposable integrated retroelements may participate in the pathogenesis of SS and B cell lymphomagenesis by inducing DNA breaks, modulating cell gene expression, or generating aberrant transcripts that chronically stimulate the immune system. Conclusions Microorganisms may epigenetically modify target cells and induce their transcriptome to generate an activated or transformed phenotype. The occurrence of lymphoma in more than 15% of SS patients may be the end result of a combination of genetics, epigenetics, and dysbiosis or latent infections.
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Lang F, Pei Y, Lamplugh ZL, Robertson ES. Molecular Biology of EBV in Relationship to HIV/AIDS-Associated Oncogenesis. Cancer Treat Res 2019; 177:81-103. [PMID: 30523622 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-03502-0_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Herpesvirus-induced disease is one of the most lethal factors which leads to high mortality in HIV/AIDS patients. EBV, also known as human herpesvirus 4, can transform naive B cells into immortalized cells in vitro through the regulation of cell cycle, cell proliferation, and apoptosis. EBV infection is associated with several lymphoma and epithelial cancers in humans, which occurs at a much higher rate in immune deficient individuals than in healthy people, demonstrating that the immune system plays a vital role in inhibiting EBV activities. EBV latency infection proteins can mimic suppression cytokines or upregulate PD-1 on B cells to repress the cytotoxic T cells response. Many malignancies, including Hodgkin Lymphoma and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas occur at a much higher frequency in EBV positive individuals than in EBV negative people during the development of HIV infection. Importantly, understanding EBV pathogenesis at the molecular level will aid the development of novel therapies for EBV-induced diseases in HIV/AIDS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengchao Lang
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and Tumor Virology and Global Cancer Programs, Abramson Cancer Center, Philadelphia, USA.,Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Yonggang Pei
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and Tumor Virology and Global Cancer Programs, Abramson Cancer Center, Philadelphia, USA.,Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Zachary L Lamplugh
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and Tumor Virology and Global Cancer Programs, Abramson Cancer Center, Philadelphia, USA.,Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Erle S Robertson
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and Tumor Virology and Global Cancer Programs, Abramson Cancer Center, Philadelphia, USA. .,Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA. .,, 3610 Hamilton Walk, 201E Johnson Pavilion, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
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Wu X, Wang F, Li Y, Wang X, Liu P, Zhang H, Ge Z, Zhang X, Gao C, Chen B. Evaluation of latent membrane protein 1 and microRNA-155 for the prognostic prediction of diffuse large B cell lymphoma. Oncol Lett 2018; 15:9725-9734. [PMID: 29844839 PMCID: PMC5958882 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2018.8560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2017] [Accepted: 03/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) has previously been demonstrated to contribute to the mortality of lymphoma with various aggressive features. The prognostic role of the biomarkers latent membrane protein (LMP) 1 and microRNA-(miR)-155 in DLBCL remain controversial. The present study primarily aimed to assess the effect of LMP1 and miR-155 on the survival of DLBCL patients, and additionally evaluate the clinical features to observe their influence on outcomes, compared with previous studies. Formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded samples were collected from our center between May 2010 and December 2011. Microarray analysis, immunohistochemical analysis and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction were used to evaluate the expression of LMP1 and miR-155. The association between biomarkers or clinical features and patient outcomes was assessed using the log-rank statistical test, Cox proportional hazard model and Kaplan-Meier method. SPSS software was used to statistically analyze the data. A total of 82 patients were included in the present study. The results demonstrated that high expression of LMP1 and miR-155 may be associated with a poor progression-free survival rate, while a high International Prognostic Index score and high expression of LMP1 may be associated with a poor overall survival rate. These results indicated that LMP1 and miR-155 may be novel and reliable biomarkers for the prognostic prediction of lymphoma, and will potentially be analyzed in the future to evaluate patient prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Wu
- Department of Hematology (Key Department of Jiangsu Medicine), Medical School, The Affiliated Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, P.R. China
| | - Fei Wang
- Department of Hematology (Key Department of Jiangsu Medicine), Medical School, The Affiliated Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, P.R. China
| | - Yuan Li
- Department of Oncology, Medical School, The Affiliated Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, P.R. China
| | - Xiyong Wang
- Department of Oncology, Medical School, The Affiliated Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, P.R. China
| | - Ping Liu
- Department of Hematology (Key Department of Jiangsu Medicine), Medical School, The Affiliated Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, P.R. China
| | - Haijun Zhang
- Department of Oncology, Medical School, The Affiliated Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, P.R. China
| | - Zheng Ge
- Department of Hematology (Key Department of Jiangsu Medicine), Medical School, The Affiliated Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, P.R. China
| | - Xiaoping Zhang
- Department of Hematology (Key Department of Jiangsu Medicine), Medical School, The Affiliated Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, P.R. China
| | - Chong Gao
- Department of Hematology (Key Department of Jiangsu Medicine), Medical School, The Affiliated Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, P.R. China
| | - Baoan Chen
- Department of Hematology (Key Department of Jiangsu Medicine), Medical School, The Affiliated Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, P.R. China
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