Down-modulation of c-myc expression induces apoptosis of B lymphocyte models of tolerance via clonal deletion.
Whereas overexpression of the c-myc gene was found to promote apoptosis in fibroblasts, myeloid, and T cells, physiologic cell death of immature B cell lymphomas correlated with a drop in c-myc expression. Here, the author reviews recent evidence demonstrating that inhibition of c-myc expression activates apoptosis of B cell models of clonal deletion and that rescue from apoptosis by CD40 ligand leads to maintenance of c-Myc levels. A model of differential functional expression of the c-myc gene is discussed.
Sonenshein
G E
GE
Department of Biochemistry, Boston University School of Medicine, MA 02118, USA. gsonensh@acs.bu.edu
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D017637:Clonal Deletion / Q000235:genetics*; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000276:immunology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000276:immunology*; D016259:Genes, myc / Q000276:immunology*; D008954:Models, Biological