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Summary: Interleukin-2 (IL-2) has multiple, sometimes opposing, functions during an inflammatory response. It is a potent inducer of T-cell proliferation and T-helper 1 (Th1) and Th2 effector T-cell differentiation and provides T cells with a long-lasting competitive advantage resulting in the optimal survival and function of memory cells. In a regulatory role, IL-2 is important for the development, survival, and function of regulatory T cells, it enhances Fas-mediated activation-induced cell death, and it inhibits the development of inflammatory Th17 cells. Thus, in its dual and contrasting functions, IL-2 contributes to both the induction and the termination of inflammatory immune responses.

Activation of the TCL1 oncogene has been implicated in T cell leukemias/lymphomas and recently was associated with AIDS diffuse large B cell lymphomas (AIDS-DLBCL). Also, in nonmalignant lymphoid tissues, antibody staining has shown that mantle zone B cells expressed abundant Tcl1 protein, whereas germinal center (GC; centrocytes and centroblasts) B cells showed markedly reduced expression. Here, we analyze isolated B cell subsets from hyperplastic tonsil to determine a more precise pattern of Tcl1 expression with development. We also examine multiple B cell lines and B lymphoma patient samples to determine whether different tumor classes retain or alter the developmental pattern of expression. We show that TCL1 expression is not affected by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection and is high in naïve B cells, reduced in GC B cells, and absent in memory B cells and plasma cells. Human herpesvirus-8 infected primary effusion lymphomas (PEL) and multiple myelomas are uniformly TCL1 negative, whereas all other transformed B cell lines tested express moderate to abundant TCL1. This observation supports the hypothesis that PEL, like myeloma, usually arise from post-GC stages of B cell development. Tcl1 protein is also detected in most naïve/GC-derived B lymphoma patient samples (23 of 27 [85%] positive), whereas most post-GC-derived B lymphomas lack expression (10 of 41 [24%] positive). These data indicate that the pattern of Tcl1 expression is distinct between naïve/GC and post-GC-derived B lymphomas (P < 0.001) and that the developmental pattern of expression is largely retained. However, post-GC-derived AIDS-DLBCL express TCL1 at a frequency equivalent to naïve/GC-derived B lymphomas in immune-competent individuals (7 of 9 [78%] positive), suggesting that TCL1 down-regulation is adversely affected by severe immune system dysfunction. These findings demonstrate that TCL1 expression in B cell lymphoma usually reflects the stage of B cell development from which they derive, except in AIDS-related lymphomas.

The TCL1 protooncogene is overexpressed in many mature B cell lymphomas, especially from AIDS patients. To determine whether aberrant expression promotes B cell transformation, we generated a murine model in which a TCL1 transgene was overexpressed at similar levels in both B and T cells. Strikingly, transgenic mice developed Burkitt-like lymphoma (BLL) and diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) with attendant Bcl-6 expression and mutated J H gene segments at a very high penetrance beginning at 4 months of age. In contrast, only one mouse developed a T cell malignancy at 15 months, consistent with a longer latency for transformation of T cells by TCL1. Activation of premalignant splenic B cells by means of B cell antigen receptor (BCR) engagement resulted in significantly increased proliferation and augmented AKT-dependent signaling, including increased S6 ribosomal protein phosphorylation. Transgenic spleen cells also survived longer than wild-type spleen cells in long-term culture. Together these data demonstrate that TCL1 is a powerful oncogene that, when overexpressed in both B and T cells, predominantly yields mature B cell lymphomas.T he TCL1 (T cell leukemia 1) protooncogene is expressed in CD3 Ϫ CD4 Ϫ CD8 Ϫ precursor T cells and is extinguished at the CD4 ϩ CD8 ϩ stage of thymocyte development (1). In B cells, TCL1 is first expressed in pro-B cells and remains high in naive mantle zone B cells of peripheral lymphoid tissues (1-4). Downregulation of TCL1 expression in follicle center centroblasts and centrocytes is followed by gene extinction in post-germinal center (GC) memory B cells and plasma cells (4, 5).Continued high-level TCL1 expression, because of chromosomal rearrangements, was implicated in mature peripheral T cell malignancies (6, 7). Polyclonal and oligoclonal T cell expansions preceded clonal outgrowth by many years, suggesting that additional lesions were required for transformation (8,9). Supporting this tumorigenic mechanism, transgenic mice expressing TCL1-familymember proteins exclusively in T cells developed polyclonal T cell expansions before the evolution of clonal malignancies at 15 to 20 months (10, 11). Overexpression of TCL1, or MTCP1 (mature T cell proliferation 1), in mouse T cells did not affect B cell development or produce B cell lymphomas. These findings indicate that aberrant expression of TCL1 or MTCP1 in T cells perturbs T cell homeostasis through cell autonomous pathways without inducing premalignant or malignant changes in bystander B cells.About 15% of AIDS patients develop aggressive B cell nonHodgkin lymphoma (AIDS-NHL) (12, 13). Most AIDS-NHL originate from GC or post-GC B cells, but the early events leading to AIDS-NHL remain poorly defined (13,14). Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most prevalent type of AIDS-NHL, and these tumors generally lack consistent genetic and͞or viral tumorpromoting alterations. Recently, abundant TCL1 expression was shown in a high percentage of AIDS-NHL of post-GC origin (3,4). This discovery led us to postulate that TCL1 dy...