REL deregulation stands as a primary hit for AID-imprinted B-cells along the germinal center competition

In diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCLs), gains and amplifications of the 2p15-16 region, which always encompass the REL gene, are mostly restricted to the germinal center (GC) B- cell DLBCL subtype (GCB-DLBCL) for which c-Rel is the pivotal Rel/NF-{kappa}B subunit. While REL is also known to play a key role in the GC reaction, its contribution to GCB-DLBCL transformation is still unclear. To understand the role of REL in the very first steps of GCB transformation, i.e when B-cells with deregulated REL are competing with other B-cells during chronic antigenic stimulation, we have created a dual-color mouse that allows to induce REL in a limited pool of AID- imprinted B-cells after immunization and to differentially stain AID-imprinted B-cells cells that overexpress REL or not. Our results demonstrate that dysregulation of REL at the GC B-cell stage promotes GC B-cell expansion and favors both class-switch recombination and plasma cell differentiation. Additionally, although REL overexpression was neutral on post-GC memory B-cell differentiation, it did confer a long-term competitive advantage allowing for GC persistence and continuous recirculation of REL-overexpressing B-cells. Functionally, REL enhanced the protection against apoptosis in the early steps of GCB differentiation. REL- overexpressing B-cells can my occasionally transform into in an aggressive B-cell tumor. Highlighting the role of repeated immune responses, our results confirm the role of REL in the germinal center reaction and provide evidence supporting the fact that genetic deregulation of c-Rel expression is most likely a primary event in the aggressive transformation of GC B-cells. Key points- REL provides a long-term competitive advantage allowing for GC B-cell persistence and continuous recirculation of AID-imprinted B-cells - AID-imprinted B-cells overexpressing REL can occasionally transform into aggressive B-cell lymphomas Explanation of the noveltyBy showing in a new dual-color mouse model that dysregulation of REL in a very limited pool of AID-imprinted B-cells confers a strong long-term competitive advantage in the context of repeated immune responses and may occasionally lead to transformation into an aggressive B- cell lymphoma, we provide for the first time experimental evidence supporting the fact that that REL is most likely a primary event in the aggressive transformation of germinal center B-cells.