Ran GTPase-activating protein 1 is a therapeutic target in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

PLoS One. 2013 Nov 6;8(11):e79863. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0079863. eCollection 2013.

Abstract

Lymphoma-specific biomarkers contribute to therapeutic strategies and the study of tumorigenesis. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common type of malignant lymphoma. However, only 50% of patients experience long-term survival after current treatment; therefore, developing novel therapeutic strategies is warranted. Comparative proteomic analysis of two DLBCL lines with a B-lymphoblastoid cell line (LCL) showed differential expression of Ran GTPase-activating protein 1 (RanGAP1) between them, which was confirmed using immunoblotting. Immunostaining showed that the majority of DLBCLs (92%, 46/50) were RanGAP1(+), while reactive lymphoid hyperplasia (n = 12) was RanGAP1(+) predominantly in germinal centers. RanGAP1 was also highly expressed in other B-cell lymphomas (BCL, n = 180) with brisk mitotic activity (B-lymphoblastic lymphoma/leukemia: 93%, and Burkitt lymphoma: 95%) or cell-cycle dysregulation (mantle cell lymphoma: 83%, and Hodgkin's lymphoma 91%). Interestingly, serum RanGAP1 level was higher in patients with high-grade BCL (1.71 ± 2.28 ng/mL, n = 62) than in low-grade BCL (0.75 ± 2.12 ng/mL, n = 52) and healthy controls (0.55 ± 1.58 ng/mL, n = 75) (high-grade BCL vs. low-grade BCL, p = 0.002; high-grade BCL vs. control, p < 0.001, Mann-Whitney U test). In vitro, RNA interference of RanGAP1 showed no effect on LCL but enhanced DLBCL cell death (41% vs. 60%; p = 0.035) and cell-cycle arrest (G0/G1: 39% vs. 49%, G2/M: 19.0% vs. 7.5%; p = 0.030) along with decreased expression of TPX2 and Aurora kinases, the central regulators of mitotic cell division. Furthermore, ON 01910.Na (Estybon), a multikinase inhibitor induced cell death, mitotic cell arrest, and hyperphosphorylation of RanGAP1 in DLBCL cell lines but no effects in normal B and T cells. Therefore, RanGAP1 is a promising marker and therapeutic target for aggressive B-cell lymphoma, especially DLBCL.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Cycle Checkpoints / drug effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • GTPase-Activating Proteins / genetics
  • GTPase-Activating Proteins / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Lymphoma, B-Cell / genetics
  • Lymphoma, B-Cell / metabolism*
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • RNA Interference / physiology

Substances

  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • GTPase-Activating Proteins
  • RANGAP1 protein, human

Grants and funding

This work was supported by grants NCKUH-98-02004 from National Cheng Kung University Hospital, NSC100-2320-B-006-005-MY3 from the National Science Council, Taiwan, and DOH101-TD-C-111-003 (To establish centers of excellence for cancer research in Taiwan) to KC Chang. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.