Development of mouse model systems of germinal center lymphomas

Abstract

Germinal centers (GC) are the predominant origin of human B cell lymphomagenesis. Transgenic mice in which gene expression is altered specifically in GC B cells have broadened our knowledge about the mechanisms of malignant transformation. However, extensive resources are needed due to the genetic complexity of these mouse models. Thus, bone marrow (BM)-derived chimerism is an attractive approach to study GC B cell derived lymphomagenesis, as it allows for an efficient allocation of resources and reduces the number of animals used.