BTG1 is one of a number of genes affected by aberrant somatic hypermutation in B-cell lymphomas, which complicates the interpretation of mutations at this locus.
These mutations are a feature of the MCD genetic subgroup of DLBCL.
Experimental Evidence
Mutations in the BTG1 gene have been implicated in the pathogenesis and progression of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) through functional exploration in vivo. Knock-out of BTG1 did not lead to spontaneous lymphomagenesis but enhanced the lymphoproliferation induced by VavP-BCL2 and promoted lymphoma dissemination in xenotransplantation experiments.[@delageBTG1InactivationDrives2023a]
Another study demonstrated that specific BTG1 mutations afford germinal center (GC) B cells with a fitness advantage relative to un-mutated counterparts.[@mlynarczykBTG1MutationYields2023b]
Q36H Conditional knock-in mouse models expressing the BTG1 Q36H mutation in B cells have shown that these mutations lead to earlier onset of lymphoma, shorter survival, and dysplastic B cell infiltration into non-lymphoid organs. These findings reinforce the role of BTG1 mutations in enhancing lymphoma aggressiveness.3
L26P, G66D, and I115V Have each been shown to be unable to rescue wild-type BTG1 activity in a xenotransplantation model, suggesting that they impair BTG1 function.2