RNA-seq Transcriptomic Characterization of JAK Inhibitor-Resistant Cell Models

This study analysed the transcriptome of cellular models of Myeloproliferative Neoplasms (MPNs) resistant to the JAK inhibitor Ruxolitinib. Two human cell lines, HEL and SET2, both carrying the JAK2 V617F mutation, which leads to the hyperactivation of the JAK/STAT pathway, were investigated. For each line, three experimental conditions were considered: Resistant, Untreated, and Sensitive to Ruxolitinib treatment. Two biological replicates were sequenced for each condition, resulting in 12 samples. Transcriptome sequencing was performed using the Illumina short-read RNA-seq technology. The study aimed to identify linear and circular RNAs differentially expressed across the three conditions, and to explore possible correlations between the expression of circRNAs and their linear counterparts. Overrepresentation and enrichment analyses were conducted on statistically significant RNAs to evaluate their functional involvement in the disease process. Interesting results will be shown, leaving an open door for further investigation of the differential transcriptome expression to better understand the genes involved in Ruxolitinib resistance and the role of some circular RNAs in it.