Serum miR-146a level is a potential biomarker in predicting the outcome of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

BACKGROUND

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma with heterogenicity in clinical manifestation and prognosis. Some microRNAs can influence the development of tumors and may be related to the response of therapy or prognosis. This study aims to explore the role of serum miR-146a in predicting the prognosis of DLBCL.

METHODS

A total of 72 de novo DLBCL patients received 6 cycles of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (CHOP) or rituximab combined CHOP (R-CHOP) regimen, and their serum samples were collected before treatment and after 4 cycles of chemotherapy.

RESULTS

The results show that a high level of miR-146a is significantly associated with a good outcome in baseline and is more obvious in post-chemotherapy. In addition, a high level of miR-146a was associated with better progression-free survival and overall survival in patients treated with R-CHOP but has not been related to a superior outcome in patients treated with CHOP. Rituximab may improve the efficacy of therapy, especially in patients with high miR-146a levels. The level of miR-146a decreased in more patients after chemotherapy, and it seems patients with a decreased expression of miR-146a after chemotherapy tended a better outcome, but it is not statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that the level of serum miR-146a can serve as a potential prognostic biomarker for DLBCL patients.

Contactin-6-deficient male mice exhibit the abnormal function of the accessory olfactory system and impaired reproductive behavior

INTRODUCTION

Contactin-6 (CNTN6), also known as NB-3, is a neural recognition molecule and a member of the contactin subgroup of the immunoglobulin superfamily. Gene encoding CNTN6 is expressed in many regions of the neural system, including the accessory olfactory bulb (AOB) in mice. We aim to determine the effect of CNTN6 deficiency on the function of the accessory olfactory system (AOS).

METHODS

We examined the effect of CNTN6 deficiency on the reproductive behavior of male mice through behavioral experiments such as urine sniffing and mate preference tests. Staining and electron microscopy were used to observe the gross structure and the circuitry activity of the AOS.

RESULTS

Cntn6 is highly expressed in the vomeronasal organ (VNO) and the AOB, and sparsely expressed in the medial amygdala (MeA) and the medial preoptic area (MPOA), which receive direct and/or indirect projections from the AOB. Behavioral tests to examine reproductive function in mice, which is mostly controlled by the AOS, revealed that Cntn6^-/- adult male mice showed less interest and reduced mating attempts toward estrous female mice in comparison with their Cntn6^+/+ littermates. Although Cntn6^-/- adult male mice displayed no obvious changes in the gross structure of the VNO or AOB, we observed the increased activation of granule cells in the AOB and the lower activation of neurons in the MeA and the MPOA as compared with Cntn6^+/+ adult male mice. Moreover, there were an increased number of synapses between mitral cells and granule cells in the AOB of Cntn6^-/- adult male mice as compared with wild-type controls.

CONCLUSION

These results indicate that CNTN6 deficiency affects the reproductive behavior of male mice, suggesting that CNTN6 participated in normal function of the AOS and its ablation was involved in synapse formation between mitral and granule cells in the AOB, rather than affecting the gross structure of the AOS.

Hexokinase II expression as a prognostic marker in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: pre- and post-rituximab era

We aimed to assess HKII expression and its prognostic significance in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients. The HKII protein level was determined by immunohistochemistry in 159 newly diagnosed DLBCL patients, and its relationship with overall response rate, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) was analyzed. HKII was expressed in 95 DLBCL patients (59.7%). HKII-positive patients had poorer outcomes than negative patients for 5-y PFS (68% vs. 84%, p = 0.029) and 5-y OS (78% vs. 94%, p = 0.05). When only patients without no bulky disease, B symptoms, or extranodal involvement who had low IPI scores were considered, those with positive HKII had worse 5y-PFS and 5y-OS (p < 0.05). Multivariate analysis indicated that HKII status was an independent prognostic factor of OS. In subgroup analysis, HKII expression was associated with inferior OS in the CHOP group (p = 0.017). In CHOP group patients without bulky disease or extranodal involvement who had low LDH and low IPI scores (p < 0.05), positive HKII was associated with worse PFS and OS. No differences in PFS and OS, or any independent prognostic factors, were found in the RCHOP group. In DLBCL, HKII is valuable as a prognostic biomarker and may be useful as a tool for assessing disease risk.

Mitochondria-specific peptide amphiphiles induce mitochondrial dysfunction and peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCL) damage

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Deubiquitinase OTUD7B is a potential prognostic biomarker in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

OTUD7B is a deubiquitinase and has been reported as a prognostic factor in various solid tumors. However, its prognostic value in lymphoma patients remains unclear. We detected OTUD7B expression levels in 160 diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) tissue samples by immunohistochemistry, and analyzed correlations between its expression and clinic-pathologic parameters as well as clinical outcomes. We also investigated association between OTUD7B expression and chemotherapeutic drugs anti-tumor activity in vitro. We found that OTUD7B overexpressed in 129 (80.6%) cases, and patients with overexpression of OTUD7B experienced better overall survival comparing to those with OTUD7B low expression (P=0.021). Multivariate Cox regression analysis illustrated that OTUD7B was an independent prognostic indicator. In DLBCL cell lines, we found that Chidamide could up-regulate OTUD7B in several DLBCL cell lines, and also had synergistic effect with doxorubicin at low concentration. Our data illustrated that OTUD7B deficiency is a negative predictor of clinical outcome, and might be a potential therapeutic target in the treatment of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.