Profiling of microRNAs by next-generation sequencing: Potential biomarkers for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Lymphoma ranks fifth in prevalence among common cancer types worldwide. This lymphatic system cancer arises from T or B cells. Diffuse large B cell lymphomas (DLBCLs) are associated with most non-Hodgkin lymphomas. Non-coding microRNAs (miRNAs) greatly affect gene expression. A single miRNA can target numerous genes, thus largely influencing gene expression networks. MiRNAs can act as oncogenes or tumor suppressors in controlling DLBCL progression. This study investigated the roles of miRNAs in patients with DLBCL through next-generation sequencing, which was found to be sensitive, accurate, and robust.

The study involved seven patients with DLBCLs and three controls at a hematology-oncology clinic. MiRNA was extracted from existing formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue specimens. Illumina next-generation sequencing was used to sequence samples for miRNA profiling.

Samples from patients showed expression of various hsa-mir miRNAs (1248, 3607, 21, 142, 1244, 182, 6516, 766, 1291, 4449, and 181a), whereas those from healthy individuals showed expression of hsa-mir 1248, 3607, 21, 142, and 877. Hsa-mir-877-3p is known to target multiple genes, and miRNAs such as hsa-mir-877-3p, hsa-mir-1291, and hsa-mir-181a-5p interact primarily with target genes.

MiRNA profiling in FFPE tissues from patients with DLBCL suggested that miRNA levels can distinguish patients with DLBCL from controls, and therefore may provide prognostic or diagnostic biomarkers for DLBCL. Altered genes and miRNAs may also be potential therapeutic targets.