Abnormalities of the immune system induced by dysregulated bcl-2 expression in transgenic mice

Abstract

Dysregulated expression of the putative cellular oncogene bcl-2 by chromosomal translocation has been strongly implicated in follicular center B cell lymphoma, one of the most common hematologic malignancies in humans. These tumors usually contain a 14;18 chromosomal translocation (Fukuhara et al 1979) that juxtaposes bcl-2 with the immunoglobulin heavy chain (Igh) locus (Tsujimoto et al 1984; Cleary and Sklar 1985; Bakshi et al 1985). The recombination presumably subjects bcl-2 to the control of Igh regulatory sequences which enforce its constitutive expression in B lymphoid cells. The bcl-2 gene encodes a 24 kD non-glycosylated protein located on the cytoplasmic face of the plasma membrane..