DNA Methylation Landscape of Peripheral T-Cell Lymphomas Not Otherwise Specified
Authors: Nowialis Pawel , Lopusna Katarina , Tobon Julian , Riva Alberto , Opavska Jana , Opavsky Rene 
Published: December 2023

DNA methylation is an epigenetic modification catalyzed by DNA methyltransferases that regulate gene transcription in mammalian cells. DNA methylation in gene promoters is associated with repressive histone marks and contributes to gene repression. This process is involved in various physiological processes, including development, X chromosome inactivation, genomic imprinting, differentiation, and hematopoiesis.

The global, genome-wide deregulation of methylation patterns contributes to the pathogenesis of immune disorders, hematologic malignancies, and cancer. Because aberrations in DNA methylation can deregulate spatiotemporal gene expression in a cell type-specific manner, genome-wide changes in this epigenetic modification may contribute to tumor development. Specifically, the downregulation of tumor suppressors through promoter hypermethylation is a widely accepted mechanism in cancer progression. Due to its distinct patterns in cancer, DNA methylation can be used as a diagnostic and predictive biomarker.

Peripheral T-cell lymphomas, Not Otherwise Specified (PTCL-NOS), are a group of heterogeneous T-cell malignancies with diverse cytogenic, molecular, and morphological phenotypes. Despite large-scale gene expression profiling, the molecular features-and DNA methylation in particular-of these rare but aggressive malignancies remain poorly understood. To better understand the molecular landscape of PTCL-NOS, we performed global methylation profiling via Whole Genome Bisulfite Sequencing on 10 lymphomas and compared those to patterns seen in normal T-cells and Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (ALCL). Our analysis revealed large-scale deregulation of methylation in all tumors at levels of both differentially methylated cytosines and regions.

The dominant molecular change was hypomethylation, which was, on average, 7 times more frequent than hypermethylation. Hypomethylation was not limited to repetitive elements but was also seen in all genomic elements, including promoters, enhancers, gene bodies, and exons. Out of 1,286 genes whose promoters were consistently hypomethylated in Peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCL), 39 genes were associated with an increase in expression, suggesting that the loss of methylation may have contributed to their deregulation. This hypomethylated and overexpressed signature contained genes that might be involved in tumor progression or maintenance, such as Rac GTPase activating protein 1 ( RACGAP1), regulator of chromosome condensation 1 ( RCC1), anillin actin-binding protein ( ANLN), and others.

Out of 578 genes whose promoters were consistently hypermethylated in PTCL, the expression of 56 genes was decreased. These included genes with tumor suppressor function, such as splicing factor 3b subunit 1 ( SF3B1) and lymphoid enhancer-binding factor 1 ( LEF1). Our analysis also identified differential methylation between PTCL-NOS and ALCL in various genomic features. For example, 71 hypo- and 59 hypermethylated promoters were found only in ALCL but not PTCL-NOS. Conversely, 326 hypo- and 254 hypermethylated promoters were observed only in PTCL-NOS.

Analysis of gene expression also revealed specific changes in both PTCL subtypes, manifested by the activation of different signaling pathways as identified by Ingenuity Pathway Analysis. PTCL-NOS was characterized by the suppression of the SUMOylation pathway, PTEN, and EIF2 Signaling, and the activation of NF-κB and Notch signaling. ALCLs were characterized by the suppression of the Role of CHK Proteins in Cell Cycle Control, Erythropoietin, ERBB signaling, the Coronavirus Pathogenesis pathway, IGF-1 signaling, and the activation of Glutathione-mediated Detoxification and Triacylglycerol Biosynthesis.

Altogether, we identified recurrent specific methylation and expression changes that could serve as the basis for the development of tools facilitating the diagnosis and prognosis of PTCL-NOS. In addition, our data may contribute to the identification of epigenetically-regulated drivers of tumor initiation, progression, and maintenance.