Differential RNA splicing as a potentially important driver mechanism in multiple myeloma

Haematologica. 2021 Mar 1;106(3):736-745. doi: 10.3324/haematol.2019.235424.

Abstract

Disruption of the normal splicing patterns of RNA is a major factor in the pathogenesis of a number of diseases. Increasingly research has shown the strong influence that splicing patterns can have on cancer progression. Multiple Myeloma is a molecularly heterogeneous disease classified by the presence of key translocations, gene expression profiles and mutations but the splicing patterns in MM remains largely unexplored. We take a multifaceted approach to define the extent and impact of alternative splicing in MM. We look at the spliceosome component, SF3B1, with hotspot mutations (K700E and K666T/Q) shown to result in an increase in alternative splicing in other cancers. We discovered a number of differentially spliced genes in comparison of the SF3B1 mutant and wild type samples that included, MZB1, DYNLL1, TMEM14C and splicing related genes DHX9, CLASRP, and SNRPE. We identified a broader role for abnormal splicing showing clear differences in the extent of novel splice variants in the different translocation groups. We show that a high number of novel splice loci is associated with adverse survival and an ultra-high risk group. The enumeration of patterns of alternative splicing has the potential to refine MM classification and to aid in the risk stratification of patients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alternative Splicing
  • Humans
  • Multiple Myeloma* / genetics
  • Mutation
  • Phosphoproteins / genetics
  • RNA Splicing
  • RNA Splicing Factors / genetics
  • RNA Splicing Factors / metabolism
  • Serine-Arginine Splicing Factors
  • Spliceosomes / genetics

Substances

  • CLASRP protein, human
  • Phosphoproteins
  • RNA Splicing Factors
  • Serine-Arginine Splicing Factors

Grants and funding

Funding: Funding for data processing and storage was provided by Celgene Corporation. Other authors declare no competing interests.