BCL-6 protein is expressed in germinal-center B cells Journal Article


Authors: Cattoretti, G.; Chang, C. C.; Cechova, K.; Zhang, J.; Ye, B. H.; Falini, B.; Louie, D. C.; Offit, K.; Chaganti, R. S. K.; Dalla-Favera, R.
Article Title: BCL-6 protein is expressed in germinal-center B cells
Abstract: Structural alterations of the 5' noncoding region of the BCL-6 gene have been found in 40% of diffuse large cell lymphoma (DLCL) and 5% to 10% of follicular lymphomas (FL), suggesting that deregulated BCL-6 expression may play a role in lymphomagenesis. Nucleotide sequencing of BCL-6 cDNA predicted a protein containing six zinc-finger domains, suggesting that it may function as a transcription factor. Using antisera raised against N- and C-terminal BCL-6 synthetic oligopeptides in immunoprecipitation, immunoblot, and immunocytochemical assays, this study identifies the BCL-6 gene product as a 95-kD nuclear protein, Western blot analysis of human tumor cell lines representative of various hematopoietic lineages/stages of differentiation showed that the BCL-6 protein is predominantly expressed in the B-cell lineage where it was found in mature B cells, Immunohistochemical analysis of normal human lymphoid tissues indicated that BCL-6 expression is topographically restricted to germinal centers including all centroblasts and centrocytes. The BCL-6 protein was also detectable in inter- and intrafollicular CD4(+) T cells, but not in other follicular components including mantle-zone B cells, plasma cells, dendritic cells, and macrophages. Immunohistochemical analysis of DLCL and FL biopsy samples showed that the BCL-6 protein is detectable in these tumors independent of the presence of BCL-6 gene rearrangements. These results indicate that the expression of the BCL-6 gene is specifically regulated during B-cell differentiation and suggest a role for BCL-6 in germinal center development or function. Because DLCL derive from germinal-center B cells, deregulated BCL-6 expression may contribute to lymphomagenesis by preventing postgerminal center differentiation. (C) 1995 by The American Society of Hematology.
Keywords: lymphoma; receptor; antibodies; family; translocations; cloning; zinc fingers; region; finger encoding gene; band 3q27
Journal Title: Blood
Volume: 86
Issue: 1
ISSN: 0006-4971
Publisher: American Society of Hematology  
Date Published: 1995-07-01
Start Page: 45
End Page: 53
Language: English
ACCESSION: WOS:A1995RF98400006
PROVIDER: wos
PUBMED: 7795255
DOI: 10.1182/blood.V86.1.45.bloodjournal86145
Notes: Article -- Source: Wos
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  1. Kenneth Offit
    789 Offit
  2. Diane C Louie
    52 Louie
  3. Raju S K Chaganti
    391 Chaganti