miR-155 is involved in tumor progression of mycosis fungoides

Biopsy specimens from 23 early stage and 19 tumor-stage mycosis fungoides (MF) patients were evaluated for miR-155 expression by real-time qualitative PCR and compared with 15 biopsy specimens from patients with T-cell-rich inflammatory skin diseases. Significant upregulation of miR-155 was found in MF tumors compared with both early-stage MF lesions and controls. There was no difference in miR-155 expression between early-stage and inflammatory dermatoses. Using laser capture microdissection, it was found that miR-155 was significantly higher in the lymphoma cells in tumor stage compared with the intraepidermal lymphocytes in early stage. In contrast, there was no difference in miR-155 expression between the intraepidermal lymphocytes and the dermal lymphocytes in early-stage MF. These findings suggest that although miR-155 expression cannot serve to discriminate early-stage MF from inflammatory dermatoses; however, it is involved in the switch from the indolent early stage into the aggressive tumor stage of the disease.