Abstract IA24: MYC in germinal center B cell physiology and pathology

Abstract

Abstract Germinal centers (GC)s are sites of intense B-cell proliferation, central for T-cell dependent antibody responses. Although much is known of GC B-cell physiology, the mechanisms of cellular proliferation have remained elusive. Specifically, the role of MYC, a key cell cycle regulator, in GC B-cell proliferation has been questioned. We have identified MYC positive B-cell subpopulations in both immature and mature GCs, and shown through genetic ablation of Myc at these stages that they play indispensable roles in GC formation and maintenance, respectively. The identification of functionally critical MYC-expressing GC B-cell subsets has important implications for B-cell lymphomagenesis, which mostly originates from GC cells and frequently involves MYC deregulation through chromosomal translocations. As these translocations are generally dependent on transcription of the recombining partner loci, the MYC positive GC subpopulations may represent B-cells with a particularly high risk for malignant transformation. Citation Format: Dinis Pedro Calado. MYC in germinal center B cell physiology and pathology. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Myc: From Biology to Therapy; Jan 7-10, 2015; La Jolla, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Res 2015;13(10 Suppl):Abstract nr IA24.