Disruption of the Bcl6 gene results in an impaired germinal center formation.
The Bcl6 gene has been identified from the chromosomal translocation breakpoint in B cell lymphomas, and its products are expressed highly in germinal center (GC) B cells. To investigate the function of Bcl6 in lymphocytes, we have generated RAG1-deficient mice reconstituted with bone marrow cells from Bcl6-deficient mice (Bcl6(-/-)RM). Lymphogenesis in primary lymphoid tissues of Bcl6(-/-)RM is normal, and Bcl6(-/-)RM produced control levels of primary IgG1 antibodies specific to T cell-dependent antigens. However, GCs were not found in these mice. This defect was mainly due to the abnormalities of B cells. Therefore, Bcl6 is essential for the differentiation of GC B cells.
Fukuda
T
T
Division of Developmental Genetics, Center for Biomedical Science, Chiba University School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan.
Yoshida
T
T
Okada
S
S
Hatano
M
M
Miki
T
T
Ishibashi
K
K
Okabe
S
S
Koseki
H
H
Hirosawa
S
S
Taniguchi
M
M
Miyasaka
N
N
Tokuhisa
T
T
D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D015322:Gene Rearrangement, B-Lymphocyte; D016654:Genes, RAG-1 / Q000276:immunology; D018858:Germinal Center / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000235:genetics; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; C064658:RAG-1 protein