SOX5 Orchestrates Malignant Evolution via Promoter-Centric Chromatin Remodeling in MYC-Driven B-Cell Lymphoma

Early events that bias germinal-center B cells toward malignant evolution remain incompletely defined. Here, we uncover Sex-determining Region Y Box 5 (SOX5) as an early-stage epigenetic modifier in myelocytomatosis oncogene (MYC)-driven B-cell lymphoma. Single-cell transcriptomics of lymph nodes from CRISPR/Cas9-engineered Myc^Cd19-Cre B-cell lymphoma chimeric mice resolve a Ki67-high proliferative compartment at an early stage with enriched SOX5 transcripts. CRISPRa, CRISPR knockout, and multi-omic profiling reveal a SOX5-centered chromatin program defined by de novo promoter-proximal occupancy coupled to contraction of promoter accessibility. Mechanistically, SOX5 binding at the Proteolytic Signal-Containing Nuclear Protein (PCNP) promoter represses its transcription, thereby reducing apoptosis and alleviating G2/M arrest. Consequently, B-cell-targeted adeno-associated virus 6 (AAV6)-shSOX5 reduces Ki67-positive PAX5-positive malignant B cells and partially restores follicular architecture. Together, SOX5-mediated, promoter-centric repression of PCNP and other effectors installs and maintains an early-stage proliferative state in MYC-driven B-cell lymphoma, which nominates SOX5-directed intervention as a candidate therapeutic strategy for further investigation.