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OBF1 is a specific coactivator of the POU family transcription factors OCT1 and OCT2. OBF1 and OCT2 are B cell-specific and indispensable for germinal center (GC) formation, but their mechanism of action is unclear. Here, we show by chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequencing that OBF1 extensively colocalizes with OCT1 and OCT2. We found that these factors also often colocalize with transcription factors of the ETS family. Furthermore, we showed that OBF1, OCT2, and OCT1 bind widely to the promoters or enhancers of genes involved in GC formation in mouse and human GC B cells. Short hairpin RNA knockdown experiments demonstrated that OCT1, OCT2, and OBF1 regulate each other and are essential for proliferation of GC-derived lymphoma cell lines. OBF1 downregulation disrupts the GC transcriptional program: genes involved in GC maintenance, such as BCL6, are downregulated, whereas genes related to exit from the GC program, such as IRF4, are upregulated. Ectopic expression of BCL6 does not restore the proliferation of GC-derived lymphoma cells depleted of OBF1 unless IRF4 is also depleted, indicating that OBF1 controls an essential regulatory node in GC differentiation., (© 2021 by The American Society of Hematology.)

Recent studies have demonstrated that the immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs) lead to the degradation of the transcription factors Ikaros and Aiolos. However, why their loss subsequently leads to multiple myeloma (MM) cell death remains unclear. Using CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing, we have deleted IKZF1 /Ikaros and IKZF3 /Aiolos in human MM cell lines to gain further insight into their downstream gene regulatory networks. Inactivation of either factor alone recapitulates the cell intrinsic action of the IMiDs, resulting in cell cycle arrest and induction of apoptosis. Furthermore, evaluation of the transcriptional changes resulting from their loss demonstrates striking overlap with lenalidomide treatment. This was not dependent on reduction of the IRF4-MYC "axis," as neither protein was consistently downregulated, despite cell death occurring, and overexpression of either factor failed to rescue for Ikaros loss. Importantly, Ikaros and Aiolos repress the expression of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs), including CD38 , and their loss led to the activation of an interferon-like response, contributing to MM cell death. Ikaros/Aiolos repressed CD38 expression through interaction with the nucleosome remodeling and deacetylase complex in MM. IMiD-induced loss of Ikaros or treatment with interferon resulted in an upregulation of CD38 surface expression on MM cells, priming for daratumumab-induced NK cell-mediated antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. These results give further insight into the mechanism of action of the IMiDs and provide mechanistic rationale for combination with anti-CD38 monoclonal antibodies., (© 2018 by The American Society of Hematology.)