The endoplasmic reticulum kinase inositol-requiring enzyme 1 (IRE1) and its downstream target X-box-binding protein 1 (XBP1) drive B-cell differentiation toward plasma cells and have been shown to contribute to multiple myeloma development; yet, little is known of the role of this pathway in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).
Taken together with previous reports, the present results suggest that two key transcription factors for the plasmacytic differentiation, XBP1 and BLIMP1, are involved in the pathogenesis in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.
Diffuse large B-cell lymphomas with nuclear Xbp-1 expression had a significantly worse response to therapy and shorter overall survival compared with negative tumors.