scholarly journals Regulation of the germinal center gene program by interferon (IFN) regulatory factor 8/IFN consensus sequence-binding protein

2005 ◽  
Vol 203 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chang Hoon Lee ◽  
Mark Melchers ◽  
Hongsheng Wang ◽  
Ted A. Torrey ◽  
Rebecca Slota ◽  
...  

Interferon (IFN) consensus sequence-binding protein/IFN regulatory factor 8 (IRF8) is a transcription factor that regulates the differentiation and function of macrophages, granulocytes, and dendritic cells through activation or repression of target genes. Although IRF8 is also expressed in lymphocytes, its roles in B cell and T cell maturation or function are ill defined, and few transcriptional targets are known. Gene expression profiling of human tonsillar B cells and mouse B cell lymphomas showed that IRF8 transcripts were expressed at highest levels in centroblasts, either from secondary lymphoid tissue or transformed cells. In addition, staining for IRF8 was most intense in tonsillar germinal center (GC) dark-zone centroblasts. To discover B cell genes regulated by IRF8, we transfected purified primary tonsillar B cells with enhanced green fluorescent protein–tagged IRF8, generated small interfering RNA knockdowns of IRF8 expression in a mouse B cell lymphoma cell line, and examined the effects of a null mutation of IRF8 on B cells. Each approach identified activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AICDA) and BCL6 as targets of transcriptional activation. Chromatin immunoprecipitation studies demonstrated in vivo occupancy of 5′ sequences of both genes by IRF8 protein. These results suggest previously unappreciated roles for IRF8 in the transcriptional regulation of B cell GC reactions that include direct regulation of AICDA and BCL6.

Blood ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 138 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 1141-1141
Author(s):  
Arief Suryono Gunawan ◽  
Amparo Toboso-Navasa ◽  
Probir Chakravarty ◽  
Andrew James Clear ◽  
Maria Calaminici ◽  
...  

Abstract We previously showed that the formation of protein complexes between MYC and its partner MIZ1 (MYC-interacting zinc finger 1) is critically required for germinal center (GC) B cell expansion (Toboso-Navasa et. al., JEM 2020). MYC and MIZ1 are transcriptional activators; however, they can form a transcriptional repressor complex that represses MIZ1 target genes. High expression of MYC is commonly found in aggressive B cell lymphoma, most notably in Burkitt Lymphoma (BL) and in a fraction of Diffuse B cell lymphomas (DLBCLs). In DLBCL, MYC positivity is associated with poorer prognosis, especially when co-expressed with BCL2, and increased proliferative capacity. However, it remains unclear whether the requirement for MYC-MIZ1 complexes for cell expansion is retained in lymphoma, similar to what we observed in GC B cells. We first investigated MIZ1 expression in primary samples of B cell lymphoma sub-types and found it to be ubiquitous in BL (100% of cases; 14/14), whereas virtually absent in low-grade Follicular Lymphoma (7% of cases, 4/58). Roughly 42% of DLBCL cases (36/85; ) co-expressed MYC and MIZ1 and that was associated with increased cell proliferation assessed by Ki67. To investigate the role of MYC-MIZ1 complexes in lymphomagenesis, we generated compound mutant mice overexpressing in GC B cells wild-type MYC or a MYC mutant that cannot interact with MIZ1 (MYC VD) in combination with PI3K. MYC VD cannot repress MIZ1 target genes but displays normal interaction with MAX and transcriptional activation. As shown previously (Sander et. al., Cancer Cell 2012) MYC synergised with PI3K for BL development; however, overexpression of MYC VD plus PI3K had significantly delayed disease development and developed instead plasma cell hyperplasia. Analysis of pre-tumoral cells by single cell RNAseq revealed massive expansion of a unique GC B cell cluster only in mice carrying MYC and PI3K and this cluster had the highest suppression of MYC-MIZ1 target genes among all GC B cell clusters. Taken together, this data indicates that the fraction of cells in which MYC and MIZ1 are co-expressed represents a "sweet spot" for B cell lymphomagenesis; and that the transcriptional repressive complex formed by MYC and MIZ1 is crucial for GC B lymphomagenesis. Disclosures Toboso-Navasa: Benevolent AI: Current Employment. Calado: Myricx Pharma: Consultancy, Current holder of individual stocks in a privately-held company, Current holder of stock options in a privately-held company, Patents & Royalties: Cancer Treatments. WO patent WO 2020/128475 A1 (2020).


Blood ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 104 (11) ◽  
pp. 212-212 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan T. Phan ◽  
Huifeng Niu ◽  
Masumichi Saito ◽  
Katia Basso ◽  
Giorgio Cattoretti ◽  
...  

Abstract The proto-oncogene BCL6 encodes a BTB/POZ-zinc finger transcriptional repressor that is necessary for germinal center (GC) formation and is implicated in the pathogenesis of B-cell lymphoma. In ~50% diffuse large cell lymphoma and 10% follicular lymphoma, BCL6 gene expression is deregulated by chromosomal translocations or mutations that affect its 5′ regulatory region. The precise function of BCL6 in GC development and lymphomagenesis is unclear since very few BCL6 direct target genes have been identified. We report that BCL6 suppresses p53-dependent and p53-indepenent growth arrest and apoptosis responses in GC B cells. BCL6 directly suppresses the transcription of the p53 gene, as demonstrated by (1) chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays showing that BCL6 binds the p53 promoter region in vivo; and (2) transient transfection/reporter assays identifying within the p53 promoter region two BCL6-binding sites that mediate BCL6-mediated suppression of p53 transcription. Accordingly, suppression of BCL6 expression via specific siRNA leads to increased expression of p53 both under basal condition and in response to DNA damage. Consistent with a physiological role for BCL6-mediated p53 suppression, immunohistochemical analysis shows that p53 expression is absent in GC B cells where BCL6 is highly expressed. In addition, our data reveal that BCL6 inhibits the p53-independent activation of the p21/WAF1 cell cycle arrest gene by binding to Miz-1, a transcription factor involved in p21 activation. Consistent with a role of BCL6 in inhibiting p53-related cell cycle arrest and apoptotic responses, constitutive expression of BCL6 suppresses p53 expression and p53-target genes (P21 and PUMA) and protects B cell lines from apoptosis induced by DNA damage. These results indicate that one function of BCL6 is to allow GC B cells (centroblasts) to constitutively proliferate and to sustain the physiologic DNA breaks required for immunoglobulin switch recombination and somatic hypermutation without inducing p53-related responses. These findings also imply that B cell lymphoma with deregulated BCL6 expression are functionally p53-negative and impaired in apoptotic responses.


Blood ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 94 (12) ◽  
pp. 4274-4281 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank Rosenbauer ◽  
Jeffrey F. Waring ◽  
John Foerster ◽  
Marcus Wietstruk ◽  
Dieter Philipp ◽  
...  

Abstract Interferon consensus sequence binding protein (ICSBP), a transcription factor of the interferon (IFN) regulatory factor (IRF) family, binds to the IFN-stimulated response element (ISRE) in the regulatory region of IFNs and IFN-stimulated genes (ISG). To identify target genes, which are deregulated by an ICSBP null-mutation in mice (ICSBP−/−), we have analyzed transcription of an ISRE-bearing gene, ISG15. We have found that although ISG15 expression is unchanged in B cells, it is upregulated in macrophages from ICSBP−/− mice. Three factors, ICSBP, IRF-2, and IRF-4/Pip interact with the ISRE in B cells, however only ICSBP and IRF-4/Pip were found to bind this sequence in macrophages of wild-type mice. Although IRF-4 was considered to be a lymphoid-specific factor, we provide evidence for its role in macrophage gene regulation. Our results suggest that the formation of cell-type–specific heteromeric complexes between individual IRFs plays a crucial role in regulating IFN responses.


2019 ◽  
Vol 116 (19) ◽  
pp. 9511-9520 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hongsheng Wang ◽  
Shweta Jain ◽  
Peng Li ◽  
Jian-Xin Lin ◽  
Jangsuk Oh ◽  
...  

The IRF and Ets families of transcription factors regulate the expression of a range of genes involved in immune cell development and function. However, the understanding of the molecular mechanisms of each family member has been limited due to their redundancy and broad effects on multiple lineages of cells. Here, we report that double deletion of floxed Irf8 and Spi1 (encoding PU.1) by Mb1-Cre (designated DKO mice) in the B cell lineage resulted in severe defects in the development of follicular and germinal center (GC) B cells. Class-switch recombination and antibody affinity maturation were also compromised in DKO mice. RNA-seq (sequencing) and ChIP-seq analyses revealed distinct IRF8 and PU.1 target genes in follicular and activated B cells. DKO B cells had diminished expression of target genes vital for maintaining follicular B cell identity and GC development. Moreover, our findings reveal that expression of B-cell lymphoma protein 6 (BCL6), which is critical for development of germinal center B cells, is dependent on IRF8 and PU.1 in vivo, providing a mechanism for the critical role for IRF8 and PU.1 in the development of GC B cells.


Blood ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 94 (12) ◽  
pp. 4274-4281 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank Rosenbauer ◽  
Jeffrey F. Waring ◽  
John Foerster ◽  
Marcus Wietstruk ◽  
Dieter Philipp ◽  
...  

Interferon consensus sequence binding protein (ICSBP), a transcription factor of the interferon (IFN) regulatory factor (IRF) family, binds to the IFN-stimulated response element (ISRE) in the regulatory region of IFNs and IFN-stimulated genes (ISG). To identify target genes, which are deregulated by an ICSBP null-mutation in mice (ICSBP−/−), we have analyzed transcription of an ISRE-bearing gene, ISG15. We have found that although ISG15 expression is unchanged in B cells, it is upregulated in macrophages from ICSBP−/− mice. Three factors, ICSBP, IRF-2, and IRF-4/Pip interact with the ISRE in B cells, however only ICSBP and IRF-4/Pip were found to bind this sequence in macrophages of wild-type mice. Although IRF-4 was considered to be a lymphoid-specific factor, we provide evidence for its role in macrophage gene regulation. Our results suggest that the formation of cell-type–specific heteromeric complexes between individual IRFs plays a crucial role in regulating IFN responses.


2016 ◽  
Vol 113 (14) ◽  
pp. E2039-E2046 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel J. Hodson ◽  
Arthur L. Shaffer ◽  
Wenming Xiao ◽  
George W. Wright ◽  
Roland Schmitz ◽  
...  

The requirement for the B-cell transcription factor OCT2 (octamer-binding protein 2, encoded by Pou2f2) in germinal center B cells has proved controversial. Here, we report that germinal center B cells are formed normally after depletion of OCT2 in a conditional knockout mouse, but their proliferation is reduced and in vivo differentiation to antibody-secreting plasma cells is blocked. This finding led us to examine the role of OCT2 in germinal center-derived lymphomas. shRNA knockdown showed that almost all diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) cell lines are addicted to the expression of OCT2 and its coactivator OCA-B. Genome-wide chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) analysis and gene-expression profiling revealed the broad transcriptional program regulated by OCT2 that includes the expression of STAT3, IL-10, ELL2, XBP1, MYC, TERT, and ADA. Importantly, genetic alteration of OCT2 is not a requirement for cellular addiction in DLBCL. However, we detected amplifications of the POU2F2 locus in DLBCL tumor biopsies and a recurrent mutation of threonine 223 in the DNA-binding domain of OCT2. This neomorphic mutation subtly alters the DNA-binding preference of OCT2, leading to the transactivation of noncanonical target genes including HIF1a and FCRL3. Finally, by introducing mutations designed to disrupt the OCT2–OCA-B interface, we reveal a requirement for this protein–protein interface that ultimately might be exploited therapeutically. Our findings, combined with the predominantly B-cell–restricted expression of OCT2 and the absence of a systemic phenotype in our knockout mice, suggest that an OCT2-targeted therapeutic strategy would be efficacious in both major subtypes of DLBCL while avoiding systemic toxicity.


2020 ◽  
Vol 217 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amparo Toboso-Navasa ◽  
Arief Gunawan ◽  
Giulia Morlino ◽  
Rinako Nakagawa ◽  
Andrea Taddei ◽  
...  

Memory B cells (MBCs) are key for protection from reinfection. However, it is mechanistically unclear how germinal center (GC) B cells differentiate into MBCs. MYC is transiently induced in cells fated for GC expansion and plasma cell (PC) formation, so-called positively selected GC B cells. We found that these cells coexpressed MYC and MIZ1 (MYC-interacting zinc-finger protein 1 [ZBTB17]). MYC and MIZ1 are transcriptional activators; however, they form a transcriptional repressor complex that represses MIZ1 target genes. Mice lacking MYC–MIZ1 complexes displayed impaired cell cycle entry of positively selected GC B cells and reduced GC B cell expansion and PC formation. Notably, absence of MYC–MIZ1 complexes in positively selected GC B cells led to a gene expression profile alike that of MBCs and increased MBC differentiation. Thus, at the GC positive selection stage, MYC–MIZ1 complexes are required for effective GC expansion and PC formation and to restrict MBC differentiation. We propose that MYC and MIZ1 form a module that regulates GC B cell fate.


Blood ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 110 (6) ◽  
pp. 2121-2127 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hai-Jun Zhou ◽  
Lan V. Pham ◽  
Archito T. Tamayo ◽  
Yen-Chiu Lin-Lee ◽  
Lingchen Fu ◽  
...  

Abstract CD40 is an integral plasma membrane–associated member of the TNF receptor family that has recently been shown to also reside in the nucleus of both normal B cells and large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) cells. However, the physiological function of CD40 in the B-cell nucleus has not been examined. In this study, we demonstrate that nuclear CD40 interacts with the NF-κB protein c-Rel, but not p65, in LBCL cells. Nuclear CD40 forms complexes with c-Rel on the promoters of NF-κB target genes, CD154, BLyS/BAFF, and Bfl-1/A1, in various LBCL cell lines. Wild-type CD40, but not NLS-mutated CD40, further enhances c-Rel–mediated Blys promoter activation as well as proliferation in LBCL cells. Studies in normal B cells and LBCL patient cells further support a nuclear transcriptional function for CD40 and c-Rel. Cooperation between nuclear CD40 and c-Rel appears to be important in regulating cell growth and survival genes involved in lymphoma cell proliferation and survival mechanisms. Modulating the nuclear function of CD40 and c-Rel could reveal new mechanisms in LBCL pathophysiology and provide potential new targets for lymphoma therapy.


2017 ◽  
Vol 114 (18) ◽  
pp. 4751-4756 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takeharu Minamitani ◽  
Yijie Ma ◽  
Hufeng Zhou ◽  
Hiroshi Kida ◽  
Chao-Yuan Tsai ◽  
...  

Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) is a major cause of immunosuppression-related B-cell lymphomas and Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). In these malignancies, EBV latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) and LMP2A provide infected B cells with surrogate CD40 and B-cell receptor growth and survival signals. To gain insights into their synergistic in vivo roles in germinal center (GC) B cells, from which most EBV-driven lymphomas arise, we generated a mouse model with conditional GC B-cell LMP1 and LMP2A coexpression. LMP1 and LMP2A had limited effects in immunocompetent mice. However, upon T- and NK-cell depletion, LMP1/2A caused massive plasmablast outgrowth, organ damage, and death. RNA-sequencing analyses identified EBV oncoprotein effects on GC B-cell target genes, including up-regulation of multiple proinflammatory chemokines and master regulators of plasma cell differentiation. LMP1/2A coexpression also up-regulated key HL markers, including CD30 and mixed hematopoietic lineage markers. Collectively, our results highlight synergistic EBV membrane oncoprotein effects on GC B cells and provide a model for studies of their roles in immunosuppression-related lymphoproliferative diseases.


Blood ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 106 (11) ◽  
pp. 162-162 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra Traverse-Glehen ◽  
Aurelie Verney ◽  
Lucille Baseggio ◽  
Pascale Felman ◽  
Evelyne Callet-Bauchu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background and Objectives Splenic and nodal marginal zone B cell lymphoma (SMZL and NMZL) have been recently identified as distinct clinicopathological entities in the WHO classification. These lymphomas entities may have a common origin in the marginal B-cell compartment of the lymphoid organs. However the precise cell of origin of marginal zone B cells, its status in the B cell differentiation pathway and the mechanisms involved in lymphomagenesis remain unclear. The most widely held view is that marginal zone B cells are mostly memory B cells. But the origin of these cells, especially the transit through germinal center pathway, remains contradictory. Somatically mutated variable-region of immunoglobulin genes and bcl-6 gene represent at this time faithful markers for exposure to the germinal center. In addition, aberrant somatic hypermutations have been suggested to contribute to the development of B-cell lymphomas, occurring in the 5′ sequence of several proto-oncogenes. Interestingly those mutation do not occur in normal germinal center B cells. Design and Methods: IgVH, BCL-6, PIM1, Rho/TTF and PAX 5 genes, highly mutated in DLBCL and other indolent lymphoma such as B-CLL, were analysed for the presence of somatic mutations from 50 marginal zone lymphoma tissue and blood samples (21 NMZL and 29 SMZL including 10 cases with numerous villous lymphoma cells in peripheral blood). According to the morphological and immunophenotypical analysis, the fraction of malignant cells in the specimen was 70% or more in all cases. Mutational analysis was restricted to the regions previously shown to contain more than 95% of mutations in DLBCL. PCR products were directly sequenced on both sides and perfomed in duplicate in two independent reactions. Results: Out of 18 NMZL cases analysed for IgVH mutational status (3 cases not analysed for IgVH) 15 cases were mutated and 21 out of 28 in SMZL cases. Mutation of BCL-6 was detected in only 1 NMZL patients (1/21) and 1 SMZL patients (1/29). For RhoH/TTF, PIM1, PAX5 the mutation average was also low with only 1 case mutated per group and per gene, with a different case mutated in each for each gene. Conclusion In summary, we demonstrate the low frequency of aberrant somatic mutations in SMZL and NMZL, suggesting that this process is probably not a major contributor to lymphomageneis. However the frequent absence of mutation in BCL6 suggest a particular differentiation pathway, as suggested before in normal marginal zone B cells, possibly without transit through the germinal center. Interestingly the relatively high frequency of VH mutated cases compared with the frequent absence of mutation of BCL6, considered as a specific germinal center tag, could suggest somatic hypermutation outside the germinal center. In addition the absence of hypermutation could be linked with the absence of recurrent translocation in SMZL and NMZL, the translocation process haveing been associated with somatic hypermutation dysfunction.


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