Evaluation of NFKB1 and MyD88 expression levels in a sample of non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients before and during chemotherapy

Abstract

Triggering of Toll-like receptors (TLRs), expressed mainly on innate immune cells, by their specific ligands (TLRLs) induces NF-κB and MyD88, resulting in stimulation of immune responses. In the tumor microenvironment, however, certain TLRs have been found to act either as pro-tumorigenic or anti-tumorigenic co-factors. This pilot prospective study aimed to explore the impact of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) on the expression levels of TLRs and if chemotherapy alters this expression. Blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from healthy subjects as well as from NHL patients before, during, and after chemotherapy. We used microarray to analyze the gene profiling of TLR signaling pathway and RTqPCR to confirm the gene expression of TLR9, NF-κB1, and MyD88. Regardless of chemotherapy, TLR9 gene expression was similar in NHL patients as compared to controls. The gene expression of MyD88 and NF-κB1 was higher in the patients as compared to the controls. Interestingly, there was a 11.1-fold decrease and a 3.4-fold increase, respectively, in the gene expression of NF-κB1 and Myd88 in patients after chemotherapy as compared to before chemotherapy. Our pilot study proof the concept that NHL itself induces expression of MyD88 and NF-κB1, while chemotherapy further alters this effect.