A role for AID in chromosome translocations between c-myc and the IgH variable region

J Exp Med. 2007 Sep 3;204(9):2225-32. doi: 10.1084/jem.20070884. Epub 2007 Aug 27.

Abstract

Chromosome translocations between oncogenes and the region spanning the immunoglobulin (Ig) heavy chain (IgH) variable (V), diversity (D), and joining (J) gene segments (Ig V-J(H) region) are found in several mature B cell lymphomas in humans and mice. The breakpoints are frequently adjacent to the recombination signal sequences targeted by recombination activating genes 1 and 2 during antigen receptor assembly in pre-B cells, suggesting that these translocations might be the result of aberrant V(D)J recombination. However, in mature B cells undergoing activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID)-dependent somatic hypermutation (SHM), duplications or deletions that would necessitate a double-strand break make up 6% of all the Ig V-J(H) region-associated somatic mutations. Furthermore, DNA breaks can be detected at this locus in B cells undergoing SHM. To determine whether SHM might induce c-myc to Ig V-J(H) translocations, we searched for such events in both interleukin (IL) 6 transgenic (IL-6 tg) and AID(-/-) IL-6 tg mice. Here, we report that AID is required for c-myc to Ig V-J(H) translocations induced by IL-6.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Chromosome Breakage
  • Chromosomes, Mammalian / genetics*
  • Cytidine Deaminase / deficiency
  • Cytidine Deaminase / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / genetics*
  • Immunoglobulin Variable Region / genetics*
  • Interleukin-6 / deficiency
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / genetics*
  • Somatic Hypermutation, Immunoglobulin / genetics
  • Translocation, Genetic*

Substances

  • Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains
  • Immunoglobulin Variable Region
  • Interleukin-6
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc
  • AICDA (activation-induced cytidine deaminase)
  • Cytidine Deaminase