Shared genetic features between lymphoma pathogenesis and oestrogen levels

Abstract

AbstractIn the last decade, genetic analysis has aided lymphoma classification, alongside traditional phenotypic subdivision. Lymphomas exhibit sex differences in disease incidence and prevalence; therefore, scope existed to explore sex-specific genetic variation.Harnessing UK Biobank genetic data (185,000 females, 176,000 males), sex-specific genome-wide genetic variation significantly associated with lymphoma subtypes was determined in both autosomal and sex chromosome genes. Sex-specific genetic variation significantly associated with sex-related characteristics was also identified. Functional predictions for those genes containing significant (p<5×10-5) genetic variation was carried out via ViSEAGO. For each lymphoma subtype, approximately 10-12% of the genes containing significantly associated genetic variants were shared between the sexes, highlighting largely sex-specific profiles for lymphoma subtypes.Significantly associated X chromosome genetic variants were identified for Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) and Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), such as variants withinSYTL5(in males) andPPP2R3B(in females); genes previously implicated in haematological malignancy biological processes. Additionally, in female NHL patients, a genetic variant mapped toESR1, the gene coding for oestrogen receptor-α was identified, adding to the body of evidence highlighting the relevance of oestrogen regulation for haematological malignancy subtypes.Indeed, up to 9.1% of overlap was observed between those genes containing significant genetic variation associated with specific lymphoma subtypes, and those significantly associated with oestrogen level determination. Gene ontology analysis further emphasised functional overlaps between lymphoma and oestrogen level determination in females, highlighting predicted involvement in epigenetic modification, gene expression, and signalling.This study revealed sex-specific genetic variation significantly associated with lymphoma, as well as hormone level determination, and revealed biological pathways potentially disrupted during lymphoma pathogenesis which are influenced by oestrogen. Exploring these pathways may advance our understanding of the sex-specificities of lymphoma, and may reveal therapeutic targets to advance patient care.