m6A is the most common form of mRNA modification. However, little is known about its role in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). This study aims to identify gene signatures and prognostic values of m6A regulators in ccRCC. In this study, a total of 528 ccRCC patients from TCGA database with sequencing and CNV data were included. Survival analysis was performed using log-rank tests and Cox regression model. The association between alteration of m6A regulators and clinicopathological characteristics was examined using chi-square test. The results showed that alteration of m6A regulators was associated with pathologic stage. Patients with any CNVs of the regulatory genes had worse OS and DFS than those with diploid genes. Moreover, deletion of m6A “writer” genes was an independent risk factor for OS, and copy number gain of “eraser” genes could magnify the effect in a synergistic way. Additionally, low expression of the writer gene METTL3 was related to activations of adipogenesis and mTOR pathways. Thus, we for the first time determined genetic alterations of m6A regulators in ccRCC and found a significant relationship between the alterations and worse clinical characteristics. The findings provide us clues to understand epigenetic modification of RNA in ccRCC.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) interfere with the translation of specific target mRNAs and are thought to thereby regulate many cellular processes. However, the role of miRNAs in osteoblast mechanotransduction remains to be defined. In this study, we investigated the ability of a miRNA to respond to different mechanical environments and regulate mechano-induced osteoblast differentiation. First, we demonstrated that miR-33-5p expressed by osteoblasts is sensitive to multiple mechanical environments, microgravity and fluid shear stress. We then confirmed the ability of miR-33-5p to promote osteoblast differentiation. Microgravity or fluid shear stress influences osteoblast differentiation partially via miR-33-5p. Through bioinformatics analysis and a luciferase assay, we subsequently confirmed that Hmga2 is a target gene of miR-33-5p that negatively regulates osteoblast differentiation. Moreover, miR-33-5p regulates osteoblast differentiation partially via Hmga2. In summary, our findings demonstrate that miR-33-5p is a novel mechano-sensitive miRNA that can promote osteoblast differentiation and participate in the regulation of differentiation induced by changes in the mechanical environment, suggesting this miRNA as a potential target for the treatment of pathological bone loss.

Cutaneous diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCLs) are aggressive lymphomas with a poor prognosis. To elucidate their genetic bases, we analyzed exome sequencing of 37 cutaneous DLBCLs, including 31 DLBCLs, leg type (DLBCL-LT) and 6 cutaneous DLBCLs-not otherwise specified (DLBCL-NOS). As reported previously, 77% of DLBCL-LT harbor NF-κB-activating MYD88 mutations. In nearly all MYD88-wild-type DLBCL-LT, we found cancer-promoting mutations that either activate the NF-κB pathway through alternative genes (NFKBIE or REL) or activate other canonical cancer pathways (BRAF, MED12, PIK3R1, and STAT3). After NF-κB, the second most commonly mutated pathway putatively enables immune evasion via mutations predicted to downregulate antigen processing (B2M, CIITA, HLA) or T-cell co-stimulation (CD58). DLBCL-LT have little genetic overlap with the genetically heterogeneous DLBCL-NOS. Instead, they resemble primary central nervous system and testicular large B-cell lymphomas (primary central nervous system lymphomas and primary testicular lymphomas). Like primary central nervous system lymphomas/primary testicular lymphomas, 40% of DLBCL-LT (vs. 0% of DLBCLs-not otherwise specified) harbored PDL1/PDL2 translocations, which lead to overexpression of PD-L1 or PD-L2 in 50% of the cases. Collectively, these data broaden our understanding of cutaneous DLBCLs and suggest novel therapeutic approaches (e.g., BRAF or PI3K inhibitors). Additionally, they suggest novel treatment paradigms, wherein DLBCL-LT can be targeted with strategies (e.g., immune checkpoint blockers) currently being developed for genomically similar primary central nervous system lymphomas/primary testicular lymphomas.

Primary cutaneous follicle center lymphomas (PCFCLs) are indolent B-cell lymphomas that predominantly remain skin restricted and manageable with skin-directed therapy. Conversely, secondary cutaneous involvement by usual systemic follicular lymphoma (secondary cutaneous follicular lymphoma [SCFL]) has a worse prognosis and often necessitates systemic therapy. Unfortunately, no histopathologic or genetic features reliably differentiate PCFCL from SCFL at diagnosis. Imaging may miss low-burden internal disease in some cases of SCFLs, leading to misclassification as PCFCL. Whereas usual systemic FL is well characterized genetically, the genomic landscapes of PCFCL and SCFL are unknown. Herein, we analyzed clinicopathologic and immunophenotypic data from 30 cases of PCFCL and 10 of SCFL and performed whole-exome sequencing on 18 specimens of PCFCL and 6 of SCFL. During a median follow-up of 7 years, 26 (87%) of the PCFCLs remained skin restricted. In the remaining 4 cases, systemic disease developed within 3 years of diagnosis. Although the SCFLs universally expressed BCL2 and had BCL2 rearrangements, 73% of the PCFCLs lacked BCL2 expression, and only 8% of skin-restricted PCFCLs had BCL2 rearrangements. SCFLs showed low proliferation fractions, whereas 75% of PCFCLs had proliferation fractions >30%. Of the SCFLs, 67% had characteristic loss-of-function CREBBP or KMT2D mutations vs none in skin-restricted PCFCL. Both SCFL and skin-restricted PCFCL showed frequent TNFRSF14 loss-of-function mutations and copy number loss at chromosome 1p36. These data together establish PCFCL as a unique entity with biological features distinct from usual systemic FL and SCFL. We propose 3 criteria based on BCL2 rearrangement, chromatin-modifying gene mutations (CREBBP, KMT2D, EZH2, and EP300), and proliferation index to classify cutaneous FL specimens based on the likelihood of concurrent or future systemic spread.

Tribbles pseudokinase 3 (TRIB3) is a member of the mammalian pseudokinase tribbles family and is involved in multiple biological processes. However, the role of TRIB3 in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the biological functions of TRIB3 in RCC and explore its underlying mechanisms. TRIB3 expression and its correlation with clinicopathological features was evaluated in 123 patients with RCC. A series of cytological experiments were performed to clarify the biological functions of TRIB3, and potential molecular regulatory mechanisms were explored using transcriptome sequencing. TRIB3 expression was significantly elevated in RCC tissues compared to that in paracancerous tissues, and high expression of TRIB3 was correlated with both advanced tumor stage and unfavorable prognosis. TRIB3 knockdown markedly inhibited RCC cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Furthermore, overexpression of TRIB3 promoted RCC cell proliferation, migration, invasion and xenograft tumor growth. Notably, TRIB3 expression was modulated by hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), which enhanced cell viability and invasiveness via targeting the MAPK signaling pathway. This study reveals the potential oncogenic role of TRIB3 in RCC pathogenesis and illustrates the mechanisms underlying TRIB3-mediated tumor progression, providing new insight into the development of TRIB3 as a tumor biomarker and therapeutic target.

Some lncRNAs can encode small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs), called small nucleolar RNA host genes (SNHGs), which have exerted certain predictive values for the prognosis of some cancer patients. In this study, using RNA-seq and survival data in TCGA-KIRC, we examined the expression profile of 20 SNHGs and explored their prognostic values in ccRCC. Results showed that SNHG1,

This largest VHL survival analysis indicates that onset age, family history, mutation type and first presenting symptom have an effect on the survival of patients with VHL disease, which is helpful to genetic counselling and clinical decision-making.

Trisomy 12 mosaicism is a rare condition. Herein, we report a patient with mosaic trisomy 12 who was conceived by in vitro fertilization. She presented with mild dysmorphic features at birth, including down-slanting palpebral fissures, a depressed and creased nasal bridge, and mild rhizomelic shortening of the limbs. She had age-appropriate development at 6 months of age, but displayed slightly more dysmorphic features than at birth. Chromosome analysis on peripheral blood revealed a normal female karyotype in 50 metaphases. A concurrent genomic microarray analysis showed trisomy 12 in about 25% of the specimen, which was also confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis with the CEP12 probe. Our findings further delineate the clinical features in trisomy 12 mosaicism in liveborns and demonstrate the utility of genomic microarray analysis in identification of mosaic aneuploidies.