Locus specific human endogenous retroviruses reveal new lymphoma subtypes.

Publication Type Preprint
Authors Singh B, Dopkins N, Fei T, Marston J, Michael S, Reyes-Gopar H, Curty G, Heymann J, Chadburn A, Martin P, Leal F, Cesarman E, Nixon D, Bendall M
Journal bioRxiv
Date Published 06/08/2023
ISSN 2692-8205
Abstract The heterogeneity of cancers are driven by diverse mechanisms underlying oncogenesis such as differential 'cell-of-origin' (COO) progenitors, mutagenesis, and viral infections. Classification of B-cell lymphomas have been defined by considering these characteristics. However, the expression and contribution of transposable elements (TEs) to B cell lymphoma oncogenesis or classification have been overlooked. We hypothesized that incorporating TE signatures would increase the resolution of B-cell identity during healthy and malignant conditions. Here, we present the first comprehensive, locus-specific characterization of TE expression in benign germinal center (GC) B-cells, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive and EBV-negative Burkitt lymphoma (BL), and follicular lymphoma (FL). Our findings demonstrate unique human endogenous retrovirus (HERV) signatures in the GC and lymphoma subtypes whose activity can be used in combination with gene expression to define B-cell lineage in lymphoid malignancies, highlighting the potential of retrotranscriptomic analyses as a tool in lymphoma classification, diagnosis, and the identification of novel treatment groups.
DOI 10.1101/2023.06.08.544208
PubMed ID 37333202
PubMed Central ID PMC10274920
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