Afshin Beheshti
Tufts Medical Center/Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston.
Title: Alteration of Circulating microRNAs to Predict Lymphoma Initiation and Progression via a Systems Biology Approach
Biography
Biography: Afshin Beheshti
Abstract
Extensive epidemiological data have demonstrated an exponential rise in the incidence of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) that is associated with increasing age, starting from young adulthood. The molecular etiology of this remains largely unknown. We propose that there are predictable, age-dependent circulating microRNA (miRNA) signatures in the blood that influence NHL initiation and progression. To investigate this we utilized a novel murine model for spontaneous DLBCL initiation at two age groups: 2 and 15 months old. All spontaneous DLBCL mice will start to develop visible tumors starting at 15 months of age. Using systems biology techniques we determined a list of 10 circulating miRNAs present in the blood of DLBCL forming mice that are not present in the wild-type mice starting from 2 months of age. Additionally, this miRNA signature heavily impacts JUN and MYC ongeneic signaling. It was determined that there is a key miRNA signature circulating throughout a host prior to the formation of a tumor. This miRNA signature is further modulated by age and the formation of tumors. Leveraging a novel spontaneous DLBCL murine model, we were able to determine an age-based key functional circulating miRNA signature associated with NHL that occurs in the blood. This age based circulating miRNA signature can be used to predict NHL development at a young age before actual tumor formation. Furthermore, this can potentially be used as a simple biomarker at a young age to predict future lymphoma development and allow for advanced novel therapeutic strategies to prevent lymphomagenesis