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Gene expression profile analysis of conditional Mll2 knockout germinal center B cells and littermate controls

ABSTRACT: Somatic mutations of the MLL2 methyltransferase gene represent a common genetic lesion in multiple cancer types. In diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and follicular lymphoma (FL) (collectively, over 70% of all lymphoma diagnoses), these mutations are highly recurrent and appear early during transformation, possibly in pre-malignant precursors. Here we show that FL- and DLBCL-associated MLL2 mutations impair its enzymatic activity and lead to diminished global H3K4 methylation in normal germinal-center (GC) B cells and DLBCL, consistent with the enrichment of MLL2 binding at enhancer and promoter regions marked by mono- and tri-methylation. Conditional deletion of Mll2 early during B cell development, but not after initiation of the GC reaction, leads to increased percentages and numbers of GC B cells, which feature a distinct transcriptional profile defined by the enrichment of cell-cycle regulatory and B-cell receptor signaling genes. Consistently, Mll2-deficient B cells exhibit proliferative advantage and accumulation in the S phase of the cell cycle, which is influenced by the number of cell divisions. While GC-specific loss of Mll2 was not sufficient to initiate malignant transformation, compound Mll2-deficient/BCL2-transgenic mice displayed an increased incidence of clonal lymphoproliferations resembling the features of human FL and DLBCL. These findings suggest that early MLL2 loss favors BCL2-induced lymphomagenesis by remodeling the epigenetic landscape of the cancer precursor cells. Eradication of MLL2-deficient cells may represent a rational therapeutic approach targeting early tumorigenic events.

ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus

PROVIDER: GSE67388 | GEO | 2015/09/13

SECONDARY ACCESSION(S): PRJNA279787

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:Somatic mutations of the MLL2 methyltransferase gene represent a common genetic lesion in multiple cancer types. In diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and follicular lymphoma (FL) (collectively, over 70% of all lymphoma diagnoses), these mutations are highly recurrent and appear early during transformation, possibly in pre-malignant precursors. Here we show that FL- and DLBCL-associated MLL2 mutations impair its enzymatic activity and lead to diminished global H3K4 methylation in normal germinal-center (GC) B cells and DLBCL, consistent with the enrichment of MLL2 binding at enhancer and promoter regions marked by mono- and tri-methylation. Conditional deletion of Mll2 early during B cell development, but not after initiation of the GC reaction, leads to increased percentages and numbers of GC B cells, which feature a distinct transcriptional profile defined by the enrichment of cell-cycle regulatory and B-cell receptor signaling genes. Consistently, Mll2-deficient B cells exhibit proliferative advantage and accumulation in the S phase of the cell cycle, which is influenced by the number of cell divisions. While GC-specific loss of Mll2 was not sufficient to initiate malignant transformation, compound Mll2-deficient/BCL2-transgenic mice displayed an increased incidence of clonal lymphoproliferations resembling the features of human FL and DLBCL. These findings suggest that early MLL2 loss favors BCL2-induced lymphomagenesis by remodeling the epigenetic landscape of the cancer precursor cells. Eradication of MLL2-deficient cells may represent a rational therapeutic approach targeting early tumorigenic events. Murine germinal center B cells (B220+CD95+PNA+) were sorted from the spleen of conditional Mll2 knock-out, Mll2 heterozygous and Mll2 wild type mice (crossed with CD19-Cre or Cg1-Cre deletor strains) and sacrificed at day 12 after immunization with sheep red blood cells (SRBC)(n=3 mice per genotype). Total RNA was extracted from single cell suspensions and processed according to the Ovation RNA Amplification System and Encore® Biotin Module protocols (both from NuGEN). Samples were analyzed on Affymetrix Mouse Genome 430 2.0 arrays.

Project description:Version 1. Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) represents the most common form of B-cell non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (B-NHL), accounting for ~30% of the de novo diagnoses and also arising as a frequent clinical evolution of Follicular Lymphoma (FL). The molecular pathogenesis of DLBCL is associated with multiple genetic lesions that in part distinctly segregate with individual phenotypic subtypes, suggesting the involvement of distinct oncogenic pathways. However, the lesions identified so far likely represent only a fraction of those necessary for malignant transformation. In order to characterize the entire set of structural alterations present in the DLBCL genome, we have integrated next generation whole exome sequencing analysis of 6 DLBCL cases and genome-wide high-density SNP array analysis of 72 DLBCL cases. We report here that FL and DLBCL harbor frequent structural alterations inactivating CREBBP and, more rarely, EP300, two highly related histone and non-histone acetyltransferases (HATs) that act as transcriptional co-activators in multiple signaling pathways. Overall, ~37% of DLBCL and 36% of FL cases display genomic deletions and/or somatic point mutations that remove or inactivate the HAT coding domain of these two genes. These lesions commonly affect a single allele, suggesting that reduction in HAT dosage is important for lymphomagenesis. We demonstrate specific defects in the acetylation-mediated inactivation of the BCL6 oncoprotein and activation of the p53 tumor suppressor. These results identify CREBBP/EP300 mutations as a major pathogenic mechanism shared by common forms of B-NHL, and have direct implications for the use of drugs targeting acetylation/deacetylation mechanisms. Version 2. Follicular lymphoma (FL) is an indolent, but incurable disease that, in 30-40% of cases, undergoes transformation to an aggressive diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). The history of clonal evolution and the mechanisms that underlie transformation to DLBCL (tFL) remain largely unknown. Using whole exome sequencing and copy number analysis of 39 tFL patients, including 12 with paired sequential FL/tFL biopsies, we show that, in most cases, FL and tFL arise by divergent evolution from a common mutated precursor cell through the acquisition of distinct genetic lesions. Mutations in epigenetic modifiers (e.g., MLL2, CREBBP, EZH2, ARID1A) and anti-apoptotic genes (BCL2, FAS) were observed in 93% (36/39) and 78% (30/39) of cases, respectively, and were invariably shared between the two disease phases, suggesting an early acquisition in the common mutated precursor. Conversely, the development of tFL is associated with deregulation of genes involved in the control of cell proliferation, cell cycle progression and DNA damage responses (CDKN2A/2B, MYC, TP53), as well as with an aberrant activity of the somatic hypermutation mechanism. Finally, we show that the genomic profile of tFL shares significant similarities with that of germinal center B-cell type de novo DLBCL, but also displays unique combinations of altered genes that may explain the dismal clinical course of tFL.

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Gene expression profile analysis of conditional Mll2 knockout germinal center B cells and littermate controls

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