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Updated: Sep 24, 2026

In Vitro Differentiation Model of Human Normal Memory B Cells to Long-lived Plasma Cells
Published on: January 20, 2019
Disruption of the Bcl6 gene results in an impaired germinal center formation
1Division of Developmental Genetics, Center for Biomedical Science, Chiba University School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan.
Abstract:
The Bcl6 gene has been identified from the chromosomal translocation breakpoint in B cell lymphomas, and its products are expressed highly in germinal center (GC) B cells. To investigate the function of Bcl6 in lymphocytes, we have generated RAG1-deficient mice reconstituted with bone marrow cells from Bcl6-deficient mice (Bcl6(-/-)RM). Lymphogenesis in primary lymphoid tissues of Bcl6(-/-)RM is normal, and Bcl6(-/-)RM produced control levels of primary IgG1 antibodies specific to T cell-dependent antigens. However, GCs were not found in these mice. This defect was mainly due to the abnormalities of B cells. Therefore, Bcl6 is essential for the differentiation of GC B cells.
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