IRF4 is an essential factor that controls several stages of B cell development including pre-B cell development, receptor editing, germinal center (GC) formation, class-switch recombination (CSR), and plasma cell (PC) differentiation.

Jun 11, 2006 · Here we report that the transcription factor IRF4 is required for the generation of plasma cells. Transgenic mice with conditional deletion of Irf4 in germinal center B cells lacked post–germinal...

May 23, 2013 · We have demonstrated an essential and cell-intrinsic role for IRF4 in generating GC B cells. IRF4 does so in part by activating expression of the Bcl6 and Pou2af1 genes.

IRF4 binding to ISRE induces Blimp-1 and represses Bcl6 to end GC reaction and to initiate plasma cell differentiation program. Contrary to IRF8, studies have shown that IRF4 is indispensable for early stages of GC reaction (Ochiai et al., 2013; Willis et al., 2014).

Jul 7, 2011 · We have shown that IG/IRF4 fusions are recurrent genetic changes in GC-derived lymphomas and identify a previously unrecognized subset of B-cell lymphomas with characteristic clinical, morphologic, immunophenotypic, and gene expression profiles.

May 23, 2013 · The transcription factor IRF4 regulates immunoglobulin class switch recombination and plasma cell differentiation. Its differing concentrations appear to regulate mutually antagonistic programs of B and plasma cell gene expression.

IRF4, whose expression can only be detected in subsets of centrocytes, is critical for CSR and the downregulation of Bcl6 at the end stage of the GC reaction. Expression of IRF4 can be induced in GC B cells by signals emanating from the B cell receptor (BCR), CD40, and cytokines.

Apr 1, 2014 · In this study, we used conditional deletion of Irf4 in mature B cells as well as wild-type and Irf4-deficient mixed bone marrow chimeric mice to investigate how and where IRF4 plays its essential role in GC formation.

Nov 2, 2023 · In summary, IRF4 expression in GC and lymphoma B cells regulates immune signaling with PU.1 and E2A, thereby modulating antigen-dependent immune responses with potential implications for lymphomagenesis. Future studies investigating targeting of IRF4 in lymphoma are warranted.

May 5, 2013 · We have demonstrated an essential and cell intrinsic role for IRF4 in generating GC B cells. IRF4 does so in part by activating expression of the Bcl6 and Pou2af1 genes.