Bcl-6 (B-cell lymphoma 6) is a
protein that in humans is encoded by the BCL6gene. BCL6 is a master transcription factor for regulation of
T follicular helper cells (TFH cells) proliferation.[5] BCL6 has three evolutionary conserved structural domains.[6] The interaction of these domains with
corepressors allows for
germinal center development and leads to
B cell proliferation.
The deletion of BCL6 is known to lead to failure of germinal center formation in the follicles of the
lymph nodes, preventing B cells from undergoing
somatic hypermutation.[6]Mutations in BCL6 can lead to
B cell lymphomas because it promotes unchecked B cell growth.[6] Clinically, BCL6 can be used to diagnose B cell lymphomas and is shown to be upregulated in a number of cancers.[6]
Bcl-6 is a master transcription factor for the regulation of
T follicular helper cells (TFH cells). Bcl-6 is expressed when the cytokines
Il-6 and/or
Il-21 are recognized; these cytokines can be produced by antigen presenting cells (APCs:
B cells,
dendritic cells, or
macrophages) when activated. This occurs when a naïve T helper cell recognizes antigen and needs to migrate to the follicle as a T follicular helper cell (TFH cell).[8] TFH cells are vital to the generation of germinal centers in the follicles of secondary lymphoid organs, where B cells divide and help fight infections.[5]
As a master transcription factor, BCL6 interacts with a variety of co-repressors and other proteins to influence the T cell lineage. BCL6 has been shown to modulate the STAT-dependent
Interleukin 4 (IL-4) responses of
B cells[citation needed] and suppress the production of BCL2.[6]
Importantly, Bcl-6 should only be expressed when there is an antigen present and further stimulation of the immune system is necessary, since BCL6 prevents cell death (
apoptosis). Unchecked growth can lead to lymphomas. Normally, the action of BCL6 is negatively regulated by the gene
PRDM1 encoding the transcription factor
Blimp-1.[9] The antagonistic effect with Blimp-1 is a powerful role of BCL6, because it shuts off the normal pathway of differentiation toward other cell types.
Differentiation of TFH Cells
BCL6 is currently considered a lineage-defining transcription factor in TFH cell differentiation.[10] Without the expression of BCL6, naïve CD4+ T helper cells will not turn into TFH cells. When a naïve CD4+ T cell binds to
MHC class II and an antigen peptide on a
dendritic cell, a
signaling cascade ensues in which some proliferating T cells become TFH cells. Signaling through the
IL-6 receptor leads to TFH cell differentiation, and in turn the expression of BCL6 in TFH lineage-defined cells. BCL6 allows, through transcriptional regulation, unique cell markers to be expressed, resulting in an effective TFH cell.[10]
Transcriptional regulation of BCL6 is vast and complex, but many of the outcomes of BCL6’s transcriptional regulation on TFH cells have been elucidated. TFH cells upregulate
CXCR5,
IL-6R, and
ICOS during their migration to the germinal center. After interacting with a B cell presenting the cognate antigen in the follicle, they also upregulate SAPhi,
CD200hi and
BTLAhi on their cell surface in the newly formed germinal center. Additionally, BCL6 directly binds and suppresses genes that are downregulated in non-TFH cells, including
Ccr7,
Selplg, and
Gpr183, and other chemokine receptor targets.[10]
Clinical Value
Role in B Cell Lymphomas
BCL6 is found to be frequently translocated and hypermutated in
diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL)[11][12][13] and contributes to the pathogenesis of DLBCL. BCL6 is exclusively present in the B-cells of both healthy and neoplastic (cancerous) germinal centers. This allows lymphoma’s to be diagnosed based on
immunohistochemical staining, revealing the presence of
Burkitt's lymphoma,
follicular lymphoma and the nodular lymphocyte predominant subtype of
Hodgkin's disease. It is often used together with antibodies to
Bcl-2 antigen to distinguish
neoplastic follicles from those found in benign hyperplasia, for which Bcl-2 is negative.[14][verification needed]
Many different changes to BCL6 can lead to inhibited activity and are known to be linked with B-cell lymphomas, including direct effects (mutation and post-translational effects) as well as indirect effects (imbalanced interactions with other mutated proteins). Mutations to the transcription factors for BCL6, MEF2B and IRF8, are common in direct transcriptional changes that cause DLBCL. Additionally, post-translational
phosphorylation can be affected by mutations in
FBXO11. Finally, BCL6’s interaction with other mutated proteins, including
CREBBP,
EP300, EZH2, and
KM2TD, can also lead to B-cell lymphomas.[6] Given its role as a master transcription regulator, many genetic and epigenetic changes can be responsible for B-cell lymphomas; these interacting proteins are likely a few of many that affect BCL6’s function.
Diagnostic Ability
Tracking BLC6 in B cells using
immunohistochemical staining or
enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) can be used to diagnose cancers and may indicate other illnesses as well. As mentioned previously, tracking BCL6 in tandem with BCL2 can lead to the diagnosis of B-cell lymphomas. More recently, it has been hypothesized that the presence of BCL6 in serum could be used to diagnose
endometriosis due to an overactivation of BCL6 in endometriotic females,[15][16] although this diagnostic method has not been found to work.[17] Nonetheless, the understanding of BCL6 will likely continue to be used to diagnose diseases.
Targeted Therapies
Given BCL6’s role in B-cell lymphomas, it has been suggested as a therapeutic target for cancer treatment. Targeting BCL6 in cancer patients should lead to the deletion of BCL6 in tumor cells.
Peptidomimetics, small molecules, and natural compounds have been developed and tested in preclinical models, showing promise of anti-lymphoma activity.[18]
^McCluggage WG, Maxwell P (July 1999). [>3.0.co;2-2 "Manual of diagnostic antibodies for immunohistology. Anthony S.-Y. Leong, Kum Cooper and F. Joel W.-M. Leong. Greenwich Medical Media Ltd., London, 1999. Distributed worldwide by Oxford University Press. No. of pages: 385. ISBN: 1 900151 316"]. The Journal of Pathology. 188 (3): 338–339.
doi:
10.1002/(sici)1096-9896(199907)188:3<338::aid-path383>3.0.co;2-2.
ISSN0022-3417. {{
cite journal}}: Check |url= value (
help)
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