Enhancer RNA AL928768.3 from the IGH Locus Regulates MYC Expression and Controls the Proliferation and Chemoresistance of Burkitt Lymphoma Cells with IGH/MYC Translocation.

Chromosomal rearrangements leading to the relocation of proto-oncogenes into transcription-active regions are found in various types of tumors. In particular, the transfer of proto-oncogenes to the locus of heavy chains of immunoglobulins (IGH) is frequently observed in B-lymphomas. The increased expression of the MYC proto-oncogene due to IGH/MYC translocation is detected in approximately 85% of Burkitt lymphoma cases. The regulatory mechanisms affecting the oncogenes upon translocation include non-coding enhancer RNAs (eRNAs). We conducted a search for the eRNAs that may affect MYC transcription in the case of IGH/MYC translocation in Burkitt lymphoma, looking for potentially oncogenic eRNAs located at the IGH locus and predominantly expressed in B cells. Overexpression and knockdown of our primary candidate eRNA AL928768.3 led to the corresponding changes in the expression of MYC proto-oncogene in Burkitt lymphoma cells. Furthermore, we demonstrated that AL928768.3 knockdown decreased lymphoma cell proliferation and resistance to chemotherapy. Significant effects were observed only in cell lines bearing IGH/MYC abnormality but not in B-cell lines without this translocation nor primary B-cells. Our results indicate that AL928768.3 plays an important role in the development of Burkitt's lymphoma and suggest it and similar, yet undiscovered eRNAs as potential tissue-specific targets for cancer treatment.

The Role of RNA in DNA Breaks, Repair and Chromosomal Rearrangements.

Incorrect reparation of DNA double-strand breaks (DSB) leading to chromosomal rearrangements is one of oncogenesis's primary causes. Recently published data elucidate the key role of various types of RNA in DSB formation, recognition and repair. With growing interest in RNA biology, increasing RNAs are classified as crucial at the different stages of the main pathways of DSB repair in eukaryotic cells: nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ) and homology-directed repair (HDR). Gene mutations or variation in expression levels of such RNAs can lead to local DNA repair defects, increasing the chromosome aberration frequency. Moreover, it was demonstrated that some RNAs could stimulate long-range chromosomal rearrangements. In this review, we discuss recent evidence demonstrating the role of various RNAs in DSB formation and repair. We also consider how RNA may mediate certain chromosomal rearrangements in a sequence-specific manner.