Control of inflammation, cytokine expression, and germinal center formation by BCL-6

Science. 1997 Apr 25;276(5312):589-92. doi: 10.1126/science.276.5312.589.

Abstract

The gene encoding the BCL-6 transcriptional repressor is frequently translocated and mutated in diffuse large cell lymphoma. Mice with a disrupted BCL-6 gene developed myocarditis and pulmonary vasculitis, had no germinal centers, and had increased expression of T helper cell type 2 cytokines. The BCL-6 DNA recognition motif resembled sites bound by the STAT (signal transducers and activators of transcription) transcription factors, which mediate cytokine signaling. BCL-6 could repress interleukin-4 (IL-4)-induced transcription when bound to a site recognized by the IL-4-responsive transcription factor Stat6. Thus, dysregulation of STAT-responsive genes may underlie the inflammatory disease in BCL-6-deficient mice and participate in lymphoid malignancies.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cytokines / biosynthesis*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / physiology*
  • Ficoll / analogs & derivatives
  • Ficoll / immunology
  • Germinal Center / immunology*
  • Haptens
  • Hemocyanins / immunology
  • Immunoglobulins / biosynthesis
  • Inflammation / immunology*
  • Inflammation / pathology
  • Interferon-gamma / biosynthesis
  • Interleukin-4 / metabolism
  • Interleukins / biosynthesis
  • Interleukins / metabolism
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Mice
  • Myocarditis / immunology
  • Myocarditis / pathology
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / physiology*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-6
  • Receptors, IgE / genetics
  • STAT6 Transcription Factor
  • Signal Transduction
  • Spleen / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Th2 Cells / immunology
  • Trans-Activators / metabolism
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / physiology*
  • Transcription, Genetic
  • Trinitrobenzenes / immunology
  • Vasculitis / immunology
  • Vasculitis / pathology

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Haptens
  • Immunoglobulins
  • Interleukins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-6
  • Receptors, IgE
  • STAT6 Transcription Factor
  • Stat6 protein, mouse
  • TNP-ficoll
  • Trans-Activators
  • Transcription Factors
  • Trinitrobenzenes
  • trinitrophenyl keyhole limpet hemocyanin
  • Interleukin-4
  • Ficoll
  • Interferon-gamma
  • Hemocyanins