BOB.1

BOB.1 is a transcription factor that is required for germinal centre formation and immunoglobulin production. It acts as a co-activator with OCT2.

Immunohistochemical expression

• It is less lineage-specific than is OCT2, being expressed in T-cell as well as B-cell lymphomas³.

• It is positive in a range of non-Hodgkin lymphomas and nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma.

• It is negative in Classical Hodgkin lymphoma.

Diagnostic utility

Along with OCT2 to distinguish nodular lymphocyte predominance from classical Hodgkin lymphoma, both being down-regulated in the latter.

References

¹ Traverse-Glehen A, Pittaluga S, Gaulard P, et al. Mediastinal gray zone lymphoma: the missing link between classic Hodgkin's lymphoma and mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma. Am J Surg Pathol 2005; 29:1411-21

² Chang JF, Phillips K, Lundback T, et al. Oct-1 POU and octamer DNA co-operate to recognise the Bob-1 transcription co-activator via induced folding. J Mol Biol 1999; 288:941-52

³ Marafioti T, Ascani S, Pulford K, et al. Expression of B-lymphocyte-associated transcription factors in human T-cell neoplasms. Am J Pathol 2003; 162:861-71

This page last revised 7.10.2006.

©SMUHT/PW Bishop