Inactivation of the PRDM1/BLIMP1 Gene in Non-GC-Type Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma.

Blood ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 106 (11) ◽  
pp. 2614-2614
Author(s):  
Laura Pasqualucci ◽  
Mara Compagno ◽  
Jane Houldsworth ◽  
Stefano Monti ◽  
Adina Grunn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
B Cells ◽  
Tumor Suppressor ◽  
B Cell ◽  
Germinal Center ◽  
B Cell Lymphoma ◽  
Genetic Alterations ◽  
Splice Acceptor Site ◽  
Splice Donor Site ◽  
Nonsense Mutations ◽  
Hodgkin's Lymphomas

Abstract PRDI-BF1/Blimp1 is a zinc finger transcriptional repressor expressed in post-germinal center (GC) B cells and required for terminal B cell differentiation. The PRDM1/BLIMP 1 locus lies on chromosomal band 6q21–q22.1, a region frequently deleted in B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas suggesting the existence of one or more tumor suppressor loci (Gaidano et al, Blood80:1781, 1992). To test whether genetic alterations affecting the BLIMP1 gene may be involved in DLBCL pathogenesis, we performed PCR amplification and direct sequencing of the BLIMP1 coding sequences in 136 cases, including 20 cell lines and 116 primary biopsies. Gene expression profiling analysis using the Affymetrix Gene Chip system was used in 93 cases to classify them as germinal center B-cell like (GCB, N=38), activated B-cell like (ABC, N=35) and type III (N=20). Nonsense mutations were found in 7 of 136 cases. Four of these mutations generated premature stop codons, predicting severely truncated proteins of 61 to 244 aminoacids; in three cases, a single bp substitution affecting the exon 2 splice donor site led to insertion of 101 nucleotides from intron 3 and a premature stop codon. One primary tumor case carried a mutation within the intron 3 splice acceptor site, and one cell line displayed a gene rearrangement in one allele with deletion of the second allele. Strikingly, 6 of the 7 nonsense mutations identified segregated with the ABC phenotype (the remaining case was not profiled), suggesting that these alterations may be common and specific in this subtype of DLBCL (6/35, 17%). In addition, missense mutations generating aminoacid substitutions were found in 8 additional cases, and complete lack of Blimp-1 protein expression was found in most ABC-type DLBCL cases. These observations suggest that inactivation of the BLIMP1 gene may occur also by other mechanisms, including the generation of dominant negative mutants, chromosomal deletion or epigenetic silencing, in a large fraction of DLBCL. Functional studies are currently being performed to corroborate these data. Overall, these results suggest that BLIMP1 may act as a tumor suppressor gene, whose loss or inactivation may contribute to lymphomagenesis by blocking post-GC differentiation of B cells toward plasma cells.

scholarly journals Cohesin Core Complex Gene Dosage Contributes to Germinal Center Derived Lymphoma Phenotypes and Outcomes

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin A. Rivas ◽  
Ceyda Durmaz ◽  
Andreas Kloetgen ◽  
Cristopher R. Chin ◽  
Zhengming Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
B Cells ◽  
Tumor Suppressor ◽  
B Cell ◽  
Cell Fate ◽  
Plasma Cell ◽  
Germinal Center ◽  
Gene Dosage ◽  
B Cell Lymphoma ◽  
Dlbcl Patient ◽  
Atpase Subunit

The cohesin complex plays critical roles in genomic stability and gene expression through effects on 3D architecture. Cohesin core subunit genes are mutated across a wide cross-section of cancers, but not in germinal center (GC) derived lymphomas. In spite of this, haploinsufficiency of cohesin ATPase subunit Smc3 was shown to contribute to malignant transformation of GC B-cells in mice. Herein we explored potential mechanisms and clinical relevance of Smc3 deficiency in GC lymphomagenesis. Transcriptional profiling of Smc3 haploinsufficient murine lymphomas revealed downregulation of genes repressed by loss of epigenetic tumor suppressors Tet2 and Kmt2d. Profiling 3D chromosomal interactions in lymphomas revealed impaired enhancer-promoter interactions affecting genes like Tet2, which was aberrantly downregulated in Smc3 deficient lymphomas. Tet2 plays important roles in B-cell exit from the GC reaction, and single cell RNA-seq profiles and phenotypic trajectory analysis in Smc3 mutant mice revealed a specific defect in commitment to the final steps of plasma cell differentiation. Although Smc3 deficiency resulted in structural abnormalities in GC B-cells, there was no increase of somatic mutations or structural variants in Smc3 haploinsufficient lymphomas, suggesting that cohesin deficiency largely induces lymphomas through disruption of enhancer-promoter interactions of terminal differentiation and tumor suppressor genes. Strikingly, the presence of the Smc3 haploinsufficient GC B-cell transcriptional signature in human patients with GC-derived diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) was linked to inferior clinical outcome and low expression of cohesin core subunits. Reciprocally, reduced expression of cohesin subunits was an independent risk factor for worse survival int DLBCL patient cohorts. Collectively, the data suggest that Smc3 functions as a bona fide tumor suppressor for lymphomas through non-genetic mechanisms, and drives disease by disrupting the commitment of GC B-cells to the plasma cell fate.

Integrative Genomics Reveals a Role for GNA13 in Lymphomagenesis within the Germinal Center Niche

Blood ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 124 (21) ◽  
pp. 782-782
Author(s):  
Jane Healy ◽  
Adrienne Greenough ◽  
Rachel Rempel ◽  
Moffitt Andrea ◽  
Izidore S Lossos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Migration ◽  
B Cells ◽  
Tumor Suppressor ◽  
B Cell ◽  
Mouse Models ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Germinal Center ◽  
Burkitt Lymphoma ◽  
B Cell Lymphoma

Abstract Nonhodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) is among the most common cancer subtypes, with approximately >350,000 new cases diagnosed annually worldwide. The vast majority of NHLs arise from germinal center (GC) B cells. We and others have identified GNA13 as one of the most frequently mutated genes in GC-derived lymphomas, including ~30% of Burkitt Lymphoma and ~25% of Germinal Center B Cell-like (GCB) Diffuse Large B cell Lymphoma. Despite this association, the role of GNA13 in lymphomagenesis remains elusive. In human breast and prostate cancer, GNA13 behaves as an oncogene, with increased expression linked to cellular invasion and metastasis. Intriguingly, GNA13 mutations in GCB DLBCL and Burkitt Lymphoma are frequently inactivating, possessing a high number of nonsense and missense mutations in conserved domains. This suggests that GNA13 may function as a tumor suppressor in the context of lymphoma, in contrast to its role in solid tumors. The purpose of this study is to define the role of GNA13 in GC B cells and to clarify how GNA13 loss may contribute to lymphoma within the germinal center niche. We first investigated the expression pattern of GNA13 in lymphocyte populations from normal human tonsil. Our data demonstrated that GNA13 is enriched in GC B cells by quantitative PCR and immunohistochemistry. To determine the effect of GNA13 abundance on global mRNA expression patterns, we performed RNA sequencing on lymphoma derived cell lines. Using this method, we found that GNA13 knockdown and overexpression was highly correlated with GC dark and light zone gene signatures, respectively. We next devised a proteomics approach to identify potential GNA13 binding partners in GCs. Lysates from lymphoma-derived cell lines overexpressing FLAG-tagged GNA13 were subjected to immunoprecipitation with M2-antibody bound magnetic beads, followed by LC-MS/MS. Our results demonstrated an enrichment of proteins involved in focal adhesion, consistent with the known involvement of GNA13 in processes of cytoskeletal reorganization and cell migration. We next explored the role of GNA13 in vivo. Since GNA13 mutations are a unique feature of GC-derived lymphomas, we developed mouse models that would allow us study GNA13 exclusively in the germinal center context. We generated B cell and GC specific GNA13 knockout mice by crossing GNA13fl/fl mice with MB1-Cre and AID-Cre strains. After immunization with sheep red blood cells, both B cell and GC specific GNA13 deficient mice possessed normal levels of B, T and GC cells within secondary lymphoid sites including Peyer’s patches and spleen, suggesting that GNA13 is not essential for GC formation. GC B cells from both GNA13 deficient strains demonstrated enhanced cellular motility toward GC directed chemokines CXCL12, CXCL13 and S1P using in vitro transwell migration assays. Furthermore, B cells isolated from GNA13 deficient animals showed enhanced RhoA activity. These data suggested that GNA13 inhibits GC B cell migration and RhoA mediated cell motility in normal conditions. Loss of GNA13 may then deregulate normal chemokine gradient signaling, resulting in global increases in GC migration. We also demonstrated that GNA13 deficient B cells possess elevated levels of phosphorylated AKT, an effect potentiated by the addition of CXCL12 and S1P. AKT signaling is known to promote cell survival in a variety of cell types, which may further promote oncogenesis. In this study, we have synthesized the complementary approaches of next generation sequencing, proteomics and genetic mouse models to gain novel insight into the biological function of GNA13, a gene that is mutated in a high proportion of GC-derived lymphomas. As a whole, our work suggests that GNA13 serves as a tumor suppressor during the germinal center reaction. The acquisition of inactivating GNA13 mutations may promote lymphoma by allowing cells to physically escape the germinal center niche and evade apoptosis while continuing to express GC signature genes. Affected cells may be subjected to persistent somatic hypermutation, which, over time, could result in the accumulation of additional oncogenic mutations, culminating in development of GC-derived lymphoma. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

scholarly journals Harnessing lymphoma epigenetics to improve therapies

Blood ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 136 (21) ◽  
pp. 2386-2391
Author(s):  
Haopeng Yang ◽  
Michael R. Green
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factors ◽  
B Cells ◽  
B Cell ◽  
Germinal Center ◽  
Cell Lymphoma ◽  
B Cell Lymphoma ◽  
Genetic Alterations ◽  
Cell Development ◽  
B Cell Development ◽  
Affinity Maturation

Abstract Affinity maturation and terminal differentiation of B cells via the germinal center reaction is a complex multistep process controlled by transcription factors that induce or suppress large dynamic transcriptional programs. This occurs via the recruitment of coactivator or corepressor complexes that epigenetically regulate gene expression by post-translationally modifying histones and/or remodeling chromatin structure. B-cell–intrinsic developmental programs both regulate and respond to interactions with other cells in the germinal center that provide survival and differentiation signals, such as T-follicular helper cells and follicular dendritic cells. Epigenetic and transcriptional programs that naturally occur during B-cell development are hijacked in B-cell lymphoma by genetic alterations that directly or indirectly change the function of transcription factors and/or chromatin-modifying genes. These in turn skew differentiation toward the tumor cell of origin and alter interactions between lymphoma B cells and other cells within the microenvironment. Understanding the mechanisms by which genetic alterations perturb epigenetic and transcriptional programs regulating B-cell development and immune interactions may identify opportunities to target these programs using epigenetic-modifying agents. Here, we discuss recently published studies centered on follicular lymphoma and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma within the context of prior knowledge, and we highlight how these insights have informed potential avenues for rational therapeutic interventions.

scholarly journals Harnessing lymphoma epigenetics to improve therapies (article not eligible for CME credit)

Hematology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 (1) ◽  
pp. 95-100
Author(s):  
Haopeng Yang ◽  
Michael R. Green
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factors ◽  
B Cells ◽  
B Cell ◽  
Germinal Center ◽  
Cell Lymphoma ◽  
B Cell Lymphoma ◽  
Genetic Alterations ◽  
Cell Development ◽  
B Cell Development ◽  
Affinity Maturation

Abstract Affinity maturation and terminal differentiation of B cells via the germinal center reaction is a complex multistep process controlled by transcription factors that induce or suppress large dynamic transcriptional programs. This occurs via the recruitment of coactivator or corepressor complexes that epigenetically regulate gene expression by post-translationally modifying histones and/or remodeling chromatin structure. B-cell–intrinsic developmental programs both regulate and respond to interactions with other cells in the germinal center that provide survival and differentiation signals, such as T-follicular helper cells and follicular dendritic cells. Epigenetic and transcriptional programs that naturally occur during B-cell development are hijacked in B-cell lymphoma by genetic alterations that directly or indirectly change the function of transcription factors and/or chromatin-modifying genes. These in turn skew differentiation toward the tumor cell of origin and alter interactions between lymphoma B cells and other cells within the microenvironment. Understanding the mechanisms by which genetic alterations perturb epigenetic and transcriptional programs regulating B-cell development and immune interactions may identify opportunities to target these programs using epigenetic-modifying agents. Here, we discuss recently published studies centered on follicular lymphoma and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma within the context of prior knowledge, and we highlight how these insights have informed potential avenues for rational therapeutic interventions.

MiR-28 Silencing In Germinal Center-Derived Lymphomas

Blood ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 116 (21) ◽  
pp. 703-703
Author(s):  
Christof Schneider ◽  
Roy L Maute ◽  
Pavel Sumazin ◽  
Manisha Brahmachary ◽  
Manu Setty ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
B Cells ◽  
Tumor Suppressor ◽  
B Cell ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Mirna Expression ◽  
Germinal Center ◽  
Expression Profiling ◽  
B Cell Lymphoma ◽  
Lymphoma Cells

Abstract Abstract 703 In order to gain insights into the role of microRNA (miRNAs) in mature B cell function and lymphomagenesis, we performed a comprehensive miRNA expression profiling of normal mature B cells and of germinal center (GC)-derived lymphomas. miRNA expression profiles were generated using a commercial array platform designed to interrogate approximately 700 miRNAs. Normal GC B cells were isolated from tonsil tissue of 5 pediatric healthy donors and subjected to miRNA profiling in parallel with tumor specimens obtained from 10 Burkitt Lymphoma (BL), 16 Follicular Lymphoma (FL) and 20 Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) patients. Each tumor type displayed a distinct miRNA profile and appeared to be clearly separated from the normal counterpart. Interestingly, a set of miRNAs was expressed in normal GC cells, but not in lymphoma samples, suggesting that structural and/or functional loss of miRNAs occur during lymphomagenesis. Among these, miR-28 was found to be up-regulated in GC B cells, while it was completely silenced in BL and significantly reduced in a large fraction of DLBCL and FL. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis confirmed miR-28 reduced expression in these GC-derived lymphoma subtypes including both primary biopsies and cell lines. MiR-28 is an intragenic miRNA encoded by the LPP gene locus, located on chromosome 3q28. Deletions affecting miR-28 and LPP were previously reported in FL (Schwaenen et al. Genes Chromosomes Cancer 2009; 48:39-54) and similarly we identified LPP deletions in about 9% of DLBCL investigated for copy number alterations by SNP arrays. Further FISH analyses performed in cell lines lacking miR-28 expression (12 DLBCL and 27 BL) failed to identify chromosomal aberrations in the LPP locus, suggesting that mechanisms other than genetic losses, possibly of epigenetic nature, are involved in miR-28 silencing in lymphomas. In order to investigate the effects of miR-28 in lymphoma cells, we generated stable lymphoma cell lines displaying inducible expression of miR-28. Re-expression of miR-28 in lymphoma cells led to a retarded growth due to a combination of G1-cell-cycle arrest and increased apoptosis. Furthermore, lymphoma cells expressing miR-28 lost their clonogenic properties as shown by their inability to form colonies in soft agar. Taken together these results suggest a tumor suppressor function for miR-28 in lymphoma cells. Toward the identification of the direct miR-28 target genes, we implemented computational target prediction methods with gene expression profiling data obtained from the miR-28 engineered cell lines. Approximately two thousand miR-28 direct candidate targets were computationally predicted, 88 of which displayed transcriptional down-regulation upon miR-28 induction, suggesting that miR-28 may affect the stability of the target transcript. The candidate targets included genes involved in the control of cell proliferation and apoptosis and in cell signaling, consistent with the phenotypic changes induced by miR-28 expression. In 4 out of 5 tested candidate targets, 3′-UTR reporter gene assay confirmed the direct effect of miR-28 on the target gene. Finally, we have generated a conditional, GC B cell-specific miR-28 knock-out mouse model, which will provide critical insights on the physiologic as well as the tumor suppressor role of miR-28 in vivo. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

scholarly journals Palmitoylation of GNA13 Is Essential for Its Tumor Suppressor Function and Its Inhibition Confers Hypersensitivity of B-Cell Lymphoma to BCL2 Inhibitors

Blood ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 134 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 3787-3787
Author(s):  
Zhizhou Xia ◽  
Xiuli Zhang ◽  
Ping Liu ◽  
Bo Jiao ◽  
Ruibao Ren
Keyword(s):  
B Cells ◽  
Tumor Suppressor ◽  
B Cell ◽  
Germinal Center ◽  
Cell Lymphoma ◽  
B Cell Lymphoma ◽  
Tumor Suppressor Function ◽  
Clinical Issue ◽  
Amino Terminal ◽  
Suppressor Function

GNA13, encoding G alpha subunit 13 protein, is a major tumor suppressor gene frequently mutated in germinal center B-cell-like diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (GCB-DLBCL) and Burkitt's lymphoma (BL). GNA13 is one of the key mediators of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) signaling to confine B cells in germinal center. Inactivation of GNA13 coupled signaling could release tumor B cells from germinal center of lymphoid organs to peripheral blood and promote lymphomagenesis. Due to the "undruggable" nature of GNA13 as a tumor suppressor, targeted therapy remains an unsolved clinical issue. Protein palmitoylation is a unique post-translational lipid modification in regulating protein trafficking, stability and functionality. Emerging evidence reveals that palmitoylation plays vital roles in control of G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling transduction. In this study, we discovered that GNA13 protein relies on amino-terminal palmitoylation for its membrane association and signal transduction, which is essential for its tumor suppressor activities. By using a Isobaric iodoTMT switch labeling based mass spectrometry method, we firstly identified that palmitoylation mainly occurs on two cysteine residues, Cys14 and Cys18, one of which site was also found mutated in DLBCL patients. To validate this result, we genetically mutated the cysteine to serine residues on these two potential palmitoylation sites, respectively. We found that both single and double mutants could largely reduce the palmitoylation level of GNA13. We also found that the loss of palmitoylation dissociates GNA13 protein from cell plasma membrane. Similar results were obtained using a pan-palmitoylation inhibitor, 2-bromopalmitate (2-BP). In order to examine the role of GNA13 palmitoylation in human DLBCL cells, we reintroduced either wildtype (wt) GNA13 or palmitoylation mutant GNA13 into Su-DHL-4 lymphoma cells after knocking down the endogenous wt GNA13 expression with short hairpin RNA interference. Our data show that the loss of palmitoylation promotes GCB-DLBCL cell proliferation and tumor growth both in vitro and in vivo, indicating that palmitoylation of GNA13 is essential to its tumor suppressor function. Mechanically, inactivation of GNA13, either by knocking down GNA13 expression or mutating the palmitoylation sites of GNA13, leads to phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT activation and BCL2 overexpression. Consistent to the increased BCL2 expression, we found that BCL2 inhibitors are among the most effective drugs to kill GNA13-deficient cells in a high-throughput chemical screen. Furthermore, we show that inhibition of palmitoylation by 2-BP enhances the drug sensitivity of GNA13 wildtype GCB-DLBCL cells to BCL2 inhibitors. These results indicate that the palmitoylation of GNA13 could serve as a target for treating B-cell lymphoma in combination with a BCL2 inhibitor. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

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 ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
B Cells ◽  
B Cell ◽  
Transcriptional Activation ◽  
Germinal Center ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Binding Protein ◽  
Consensus Sequence ◽  
B Cell Lymphoma ◽  
Regulatory Factor

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.

scholarly journals Immunolocalization of the ICE/Ced-3–Family Protease, CPP32 (Caspase-3), in Non-Hodgkin's Lymphomas, Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemias, and Reactive Lymph Nodes

Blood ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 89 (10) ◽  
pp. 3817-3825 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stanislaw Krajewski ◽  
Randy D. Gascoyne ◽  
Juan M. Zapata ◽  
Maryla Krajewska ◽  
Shinichi Kitada ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
B Cells ◽  
Lymph Nodes ◽  
B Cell ◽  
Germinal Center ◽  
Caspase 3 ◽  
Large Cell ◽  
B Cell Lymphomas ◽  
Mantle Zone ◽  
Dynamic Regulation ◽  
Hodgkin's Lymphomas

Immunohistochemical analysis of the apoptosis-effector protease CPP32 (Caspase-3) in normal lymph nodes, tonsils, and nodes affected with reactive hyperplasia (n = 22) showed strong immunoreactivity in the apoptosis-prone germinal center B-lymphocytes of secondary follicles, but little or no reactivity in the surrounding long-lived mantle zone lymphocytes. Immunoblot analysis of fluorescence-activated cell sorted germinal center and mantle zone B cells supported the immunohistochemical results. In 22 of 27 (81%) follicular small cleaved cell non-Hodgkin's B-cell lymphomas, the CPP32-immunopositive germinal center lymphocytes were replaced by CPP32-negative tumor cells. In contrast, the large cell component of follicular mixed cells (FMs) and follicular large cell lymphomas (FLCLs) was strongly CPP32 immunopositive in 12 of 17 (71%) and in 8 of 14 (57%) cases, respectively, whereas the residual small-cleaved cells were poorly stained for CPP32 in all FLCLs and in 12 of 17 (71%) FMs, suggesting that an upregulation of CPP32 immunoreactivity occurred during progression. Similarly, cytosolic immunostaining for CPP32 was present in 10 of 12 (83%) diffuse large cell lymphomas (DLCLs) and 2 of 3 diffuse mixed B-cell lymphomas (DMs). Immunopositivity for CPP32 was also found in the majority of other types of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas studied. Plasmacytomas were CPP32 immunonegative in 4 of 12 (33%) cases, in contrast to normal plasma cells, which uniformly contained intense CPP32 immunoreactivity, implying downregulation of CPP32 in a subset of these malignancies. All 12 peripheral blood B-cell chronic lymphocyte leukemia specimens examined were CPP32 immunopositive, whereas 3 of 3 small lymphocytic lymphomas were CPP32 negative, suggesting that CPP32 expression may vary depending on the tissue compartment in which these neoplastic B cells reside. The results show dynamic regulation of CPP32 expression in normal and malignant lymphocytes.

scholarly journals Telomerase activation in normal B lymphocytes and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas

Blood ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 88 (1) ◽  
pp. 222-229 ◽  
Author(s):  
KF Norrback ◽  
K Dahlenborg ◽  
R Carlsson ◽  
G Roos
Keyword(s):  
B Cells ◽  
B Cell ◽  
Germinal Center ◽  
Telomerase Activity ◽  
Lymphoid Tissues ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
Malignant Lymphomas ◽  
Hodgkin's Lymphomas ◽  
Germinal Center B Cells

Abstract Activation of telomerase seems to be a prerequisite for immortalization and is found in permanent cell lines and most malignant tumors. Normal somatic cells are generally telomerase negative, except for bone marrow stem cells. Weak activity is also present in peripheral blood cells. In the present study strong telomerase activity was demonstrated in vivo in normal mature cells of the immune system, as well as in malignant lymphomas. Benign lymph nodes had lower telomerase activity than benign tonsils, which exhibited intermediate to high activity comparable with findings in malignant lymphomas. In benign tonsils the activity seemed to be restricted to germinal center B cells. In benign lymphoid tissues telomerase activity correlated with B-cell numbers and cell proliferation, but this was not observed in the lymphoma group. High- grade lymphomas exhibited higher levels of telomerase compared with low- grade cases. The data showed that in vivo activation of telomerase is a characteristic feature of germinal center B cells. Different signals for activation of telomerase are likely to exist, one of them being immune stimulation. The data suggest that telomerase activity in malignant lymphomas can be explained by an “induction and retention” model, ie, transformation occurs in a normal, mature B cell with reactivated telomerase, which is retained in the neoplastic clone.

scholarly journals Immunolocalization of the ICE/Ced-3–Family Protease, CPP32 (Caspase-3), in Non-Hodgkin's Lymphomas, Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemias, and Reactive Lymph Nodes

Blood ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 89 (10) ◽  
pp. 3817-3825 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stanislaw Krajewski ◽  
Randy D. Gascoyne ◽  
Juan M. Zapata ◽  
Maryla Krajewska ◽  
Shinichi Kitada ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
B Cells ◽  
Lymph Nodes ◽  
B Cell ◽  
Germinal Center ◽  
Caspase 3 ◽  
Large Cell ◽  
B Cell Lymphomas ◽  
Mantle Zone ◽  
Dynamic Regulation ◽  
Hodgkin's Lymphomas

Abstract Immunohistochemical analysis of the apoptosis-effector protease CPP32 (Caspase-3) in normal lymph nodes, tonsils, and nodes affected with reactive hyperplasia (n = 22) showed strong immunoreactivity in the apoptosis-prone germinal center B-lymphocytes of secondary follicles, but little or no reactivity in the surrounding long-lived mantle zone lymphocytes. Immunoblot analysis of fluorescence-activated cell sorted germinal center and mantle zone B cells supported the immunohistochemical results. In 22 of 27 (81%) follicular small cleaved cell non-Hodgkin's B-cell lymphomas, the CPP32-immunopositive germinal center lymphocytes were replaced by CPP32-negative tumor cells. In contrast, the large cell component of follicular mixed cells (FMs) and follicular large cell lymphomas (FLCLs) was strongly CPP32 immunopositive in 12 of 17 (71%) and in 8 of 14 (57%) cases, respectively, whereas the residual small-cleaved cells were poorly stained for CPP32 in all FLCLs and in 12 of 17 (71%) FMs, suggesting that an upregulation of CPP32 immunoreactivity occurred during progression. Similarly, cytosolic immunostaining for CPP32 was present in 10 of 12 (83%) diffuse large cell lymphomas (DLCLs) and 2 of 3 diffuse mixed B-cell lymphomas (DMs). Immunopositivity for CPP32 was also found in the majority of other types of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas studied. Plasmacytomas were CPP32 immunonegative in 4 of 12 (33%) cases, in contrast to normal plasma cells, which uniformly contained intense CPP32 immunoreactivity, implying downregulation of CPP32 in a subset of these malignancies. All 12 peripheral blood B-cell chronic lymphocyte leukemia specimens examined were CPP32 immunopositive, whereas 3 of 3 small lymphocytic lymphomas were CPP32 negative, suggesting that CPP32 expression may vary depending on the tissue compartment in which these neoplastic B cells reside. The results show dynamic regulation of CPP32 expression in normal and malignant lymphocytes.

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