EZB-type diffuse large B-cell lymphoma cell lines have superior migration capabilities compared to MCD-type.

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) represents the most prevalent aggressive B-cell lymphoma. The group is heterogeneous and the outcome is variable. A variety of approaches have been employed with the objective of improving the stratification of DLBCL patients according to their prognosis, based on the cell of origin. Recently, distinct genetic subtypes of DLBCL have been identified. Given the importance of cell migration in immune cells, the objective of this study was to ascertain whether different genetic subtypes of DLBCL exhibit disparate migration abilities. MCD- and EZB-type DLBCL cell lines were subjected to testing to ascertain their basal velocity in straight microchannels and their ability to overcome tight constrictions of 2 μm. The EZB-type cell lines showed superior basal migration velocity and constriction passage time, and a similar trend was observed in live cell imaging of native human DLBCL tissue. In addition, MCD-type DLBCL exhibited significantly elevated levels of nuclear lamin A/C, which is responsible for the stiffness of the nuclear envelope and could thus explain the disparate migration behaviours observed among these subtypes. Our study suggests that different genetic subtypes of DLBCL may not only influence the outcome after therapy but also the motility of the tumour cells.