The IgH 3' regulatory region and c-myc-induced B-cell lymphomagenesis

Deregulation and mutations of c-myc have been reported in multiple mature B-cell malignancies such as Burkitt lymphoma, myeloma and plasma cell lymphoma. After translocation into the immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) locus, c-myc is constitutively expressed under the control of active IgH cis-regulatory enhancers. Those located in the IgH 3' regulatory region (3'RR) are master control elements of transcription. Over the past decade numerous convincing demonstrations of 3'RR's contribution to mature c-myc-induced lymphomagenesis have been made using transgenic models with various types of IgH-c-myc translocations and transgenes. This review highlights how IgH 3'RR physiological functions play a critical role in c-myc deregulation during lymphomagenesis.