Biology of Germinal Center B Cells Relating to Lymphomagenesis

EZH2-mediated epigenetic silencing in germinal center B cells contributes to proliferation and lymphomagenesis.

EZH2 is the catalytic subunit of the PRC2 Polycomb complex and mediates transcriptional repression through its histone methyltransferase activity. EZH2 is up-regulated in normal germinal center (GC) B cells and is implicated in lymphomagenesis. To explore the transcriptional programs controlled by EZH2, we performed chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP-on-chip) in GC cells and found that it bind...

Burkitt lymphomagenesis linked to MYC plus PI3K in germinal center B cells

Burkitt lymphoma (BL) is a highly aggressive germinal center (GC) derived B cell lymphoma. Its successful treatment requires intense therapeutic protocols that include high doses of alkylating agents and central nervous system (CNS) prophylaxis [1]. Outcome is still poor in patients over the age of 40 years. Thus, less toxic and more targeted treatment strategies are needed to improve BL manage...

AID-Expressing Germinal Center B Cells

Germinal center dysregulation by histone methyltransferase EZH2 promotes lymphomagenesis.

Protection against deadly pathogens requires the production of high-affinity antibodies by B cells, which are generated in germinal centers (GCs). Alteration of the GC developmental program is common in many B cell malignancies. Identification of regulators of the GC response is crucial to develop targeted therapies for GC B cell dysfunctions, including lymphomas. The histone H3 lysine 27 methy...

Maintenance of human germinal center B cells in vitro.

The ability to maintain germinal center (GC) B cells in culture should facilitate studies on the molecular and cellular events which accompany affinity maturation and the generation of memory in T-dependent responses. We have investigated the ability of cytokines to maintain human tonsillar GC B cells (IgD-/CD39-/CD38+/CD77+) in the "CD40 culture system". In the absence of added cytokines, CD40...