Di Re, M. | bioRxiv Science

bioRxiv2025

DC-SIGN Binding to the Surface Ig Oligomannose-type Glycans Promotes Follicular Lymphoma Cell Adhesion and Survival

The occupation of the surface immunoglobulin antigen-binding site by oligomannose-type glycans (sIg-Mann) is a tumor-specific post-translational modification of classic follicular lymphoma (FL). SIg-Mann switches binding from antigen to dendritic cell-specific intercellular adhesion molecule 3 grabbing non-integrin (DC-SIGN), known to be expressed on interfollicular macrophages and FL-associated follicular dendritic cells (FDCs). The interaction with DC-SIGN induces reorganization of sIg-Mann in wider and less dense clusters than anti-Ig, consistent with inefficient DC-SIGN-induced endocytosis and a low-level intracellular signaling. However, ligand-specific cell clusters form between sIg-Mann-expressing lymphoma and DC-SIGN-expressing cells, raising a need to understand the functional consequences of the interaction of DC-SIGN with sIg-Mann on primary FL cells. This engagement induces adhesion of FL cells to VCAM-1 via B-cell receptor proximal kinases and actin regulators in a fashion similar to anti-Ig, but without initiating apoptosis in vitro. Instead, antibody blockade of sIg-Mann contact with DC-SIGN expressed on FDC-derived YK6/SIGN cells inhibits adhesion and survival of primary FL cells in vitro. These data highlight that the specific interaction with DC-SIGN induces FL cell adhesion to VCAM-1, likely allowing FL cell retention in the lymph node, and survival of the FL cells. Adhesion and survival are inhibited by an anti-DC-SIGN blocking antibody, indicating a new early therapeutic approach against FL retention and survival in adaptive tumor tissue niches. Key pointsO_LIDC-SIGN promotes FL cell adhesion to VCAM-1 via B-cell receptor proximal kinases and actin regulators C_LIO_LIDC-SIGN interaction with sIg-Mann sustains the survival of FL cells C_LI

cancer biology↗

bioRxiv2019

Genetic modification of primary human B cells generates translationally-relevant models of high-grade lymphoma

Sequencing studies of Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) have identified hundreds of recurrently altered genes. However, it remains largely unknown whether and how these mutations may contribute to lymphomagenesis, either individually or in combination. Existing strategies to address this problem predominantly utilize cell lines, which are limited by their initial characteristics and subsequent adaptions to prolonged in vitro culture. Here, we describe a novel co-culture system that enables the ex vivo expansion and viral transduction of primary human germinal center B cells. The incorporation of CRISPR/Cas9 technology enables high-throughput functional interrogation of genes recurrently mutated in DLBCL. Using a backbone of BCL2 with either BCL6 or MYC we have identified co-operating oncogenes that promote growth and survival, or even full transformation into synthetically engineered models of DLBCL. The resulting tumors can be expanded and sequentially transplanted in vivo, providing a scalable platform to test putative cancer genes and for the creation of mutation-directed, bespoke lymphoma models.

cancer biology↗