Dysregulation of miRNAs in DLBCL: Causative Factor for Pathogenesis, Diagnosis and Prognosis

Abstract

MicroRNA is a small non-coding RNA (sncRNA) involved in gene silencing and regulating post-transcriptional gene expression. miRNAs play an essential role in the pathogenesis of numerous diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, viral diseases and cancer. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is an aggressive non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL), arising from different stages of B-cell differentiation whose pathogenesis involves miRNAs. Various viral and non-viral vectors are used as a delivery vehicle for introducing specific miRNA inside the cell. Adenoviruses are linear, double-stranded DNA viruses with 35 kb genome size and are extensively used in gene therapy. Meanwhile, Adeno-associated viruses accommodate up to 4.8 kb foreign genetic material and are favorable for transferring miRNA due to small size of miRNA. The genetic material is integrated into the DNA of the host cell by retroviruses so that only dividing cells are infected and stable expression of miRNA is achieved. Over the years, remarkable progress was made to understand DLBCL biology using advanced genomics and epigenomics technologies enabling oncologists to uncover multiple genetic mutations in DLBCL patients. These genetic mutations are involved in epigenetic modification, ability to escape immunosurveillance, impaired BCL6 and NF-κβ signaling pathways and blocking terminal differentiation. These pathways have since been identified and used as therapeutic targets for the treatment of DLBCL. Recently miRNAs were also identified to act either as oncogenes or tumor suppressors in DLBCL pathology by altering the expression levels of some of the known DLBCL related oncogenes. i.e., miR-155, miR-17-92 and miR-21 act as oncogenes by altering the expression levels of MYC, SHIP and FOXO1, respectively, conversely; miR-34a, mir-144 and miR-181a act as tumor suppressors by altering the expression levels of SIRT1, BCL6 and CARD11, respectively. Hundreds of miRNAs have already been identified as biomarkers in the prognosis and diagnosis of DLBCL because of their significant roles in DLBCL pathogenesis. In conclusion, miRNAs in addition to their role as biomarkers of prognosis and diagnosis could also serve as potential therapeutic targets for treating DLBCL.