New effector functions and regulatory mechanisms of BCL6 in normal and malignant lymphocytes

The BCL6 oncogenic repressor is a master regulator of humoral immunity and B-cell lymphoma survival. Whereas much research has focused on its regulation and function in germinal center B-cells, its role in other mature lymphoid cell compartments is less clear. A novel role for BCL6 in follicular T helper cell development was recently uncovered. The latest discoveries reveal that BCL6 is also an important regulator of other specialized helper T-cell subsets within germinal centers, pre-germinal center events, and peripheral T-cell effector functions. Here, we review newly discovered roles for BCL6 in lymphocyte subsets residing within and outside of germinal centers, and discuss their implications with respect to the molecular mechanisms of BCL6 regulation and potential links to B and T-cell lymphomas.