Regulation of gene expression by the proto-oncogene BCL-6

Abstract

The proto-oncogene BCL-6 encodes a transcriptional repressor protein that is expressed at high levels in germinal center B cells and lymphomas with a germinal center B cell phenotype. The BCL-6 gene is a frequent target of chromosomal translocations, micro-deletions, and point mutations in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Studies of BCL-6-deficient mice have revealed that BCL-6 is critical for normal lymphocyte differentiation and also that BCL-6 is a negative regulator of inflammation. Recent studies have shed light on how BCL-6 controls these processes by showing that BCL-6 regulates a broad spectrum of target genes. BCL-6 represses transcription of genes involved in lymphocyte activation, differentiation, proliferation, and migration. Although much progress has been made in understanding gene regulation by BCL-6, many important questions are unresolved.