Spender, L. C. and Inman, G. J. (2009) Targeting the BCL-2 family in malignancies of germinal centre origin. Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Targets, 13(12), pp. 1459-1472. (doi: 10.1517/14728220903379565) (PMID:19922301)
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Abstract
The germinal centre is a dynamic microenvironment where B-cell responses are honed. Antigen-specific cells undergo clonal expansion followed by antibody affinity maturation and class switching through somatic hypermutation and recombination of immunoglobulin genes respectively. The huge proliferative capacity of the B-cells and the potential for generating non-functional or autoreactive immunoglobulins, necessitate strict control measures. Pro-apoptotic signalling pathways via B-cell receptors, FAS and the TGF-β receptor, ALK5, ensure that apoptosis of germinal centre B-cells is the norm and cells only survive to differentiate fully if they receive sufficient pro-survival signals to overcome their ‘primed for death’ status. Several of the B-cell signalling pathways converge on the intrinsic apoptotic machinery to control expression of the BCL-2 family of apoptosis regulators including BIM, the pro-survival factor BCL-XL and the BH3-only protein, BIK (recently identified as a mediator of a TGF-β-induced default apoptosis pathway in human B-cells). It is a foreseeable hazard that cells undergoing genetic mutation and recombination events might unintentionally target some of these factors, resulting in defective programmed cell death. Here we discuss the function of BCL-2 family proteins in germinal centre reactions, their deregulation in malignancies of germinal centre origin, and the potential for targeting BCL-2-related proteins therapeutically in lymphomas.
| Item Type: | Articles |
|---|---|
| Status: | Published |
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | Spender, Dr Lindsay and Inman, Professor Gareth |
| Authors: | Spender, L. C., and Inman, G. J. |
| College/School: | College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cancer Sciences |
| Journal Name: | Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Targets |
| Publisher: | Taylor & Francis |
| ISSN: | 1472-8222 |
| ISSN (Online): | 1744-7631 |
| Published Online: | 18 November 2009 |
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