High frequency of development of B cell lymphoproliferation and diffuse large B cell lymphoma in Dbl knock-in mice

J Mol Med (Berl). 2011 May;89(5):493-504. doi: 10.1007/s00109-010-0712-4. Epub 2011 Jan 11.

Abstract

Dbl is the prototype of a large family of GDP-GTP exchange factors for small GTPases of the Rho family. In vitro, Dbl is known to activate Rho, Rac, and Cdc42 and to induce a transformed phenotype in murine fibroblasts. We previously reported that Dbl-null mice are viable and fertile but display defective dendrite elongation of distinct subpopulations of cortical neurons, suggesting a role of Dbl in controlling dendritic growth. To gain deeper insights into the role of Dbl in development and disease, we attempted a knock-in approach to create an endogenous allele that encodes a missense-mutation-mediated loss of function in the DH domain. We generated, by gene targeting technology, a mutant mouse strain by inserting a mutagenized human proto-Dbl cDNA clone expressing only the Dbl N terminus regulatory sequence at the starting codon of murine exon 1. Animals were monitored over a 21-month period, and necropsy specimens were collected for histological examination and immunohistochemistry analysis. Dbl knock-in mice are viable and did not manifest either decreased reproductive performances or gross developmental phenotype but revealed a reduced lifespan compared to wild-type (w.t.) mice and showed, with aging, a B cell lymphoproliferation that often has features of a frank diffuse large B cell lymphoma. Moreover, Dbl knock-in male mice displayed an increased incidence of lung adenoma compared to w.t. mice. These data indicate that Dbl is a tumor susceptibility gene in mice and that loss of function of Dbl DH domain by genetic missense mutations is responsible for induction of diffuse large B cell lymphoma.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blotting, Western
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / genetics
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • In Situ Nick-End Labeling
  • Lymphoma, B-Cell / genetics
  • Lymphoma, B-Cell / metabolism*
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / genetics
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • NIH 3T3 Cells
  • rho GTP-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • rho GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors
  • Mcf2 protein, mouse
  • rho GTP-Binding Proteins