IGH, 14q32.33, Green
BCL2, 18q21.33-q22.1, Red
The IGH/BCL2 product consists of probes, labelled in green, covering the Constant, J, D and Variable segments of the IGH gene, and four probes labelled in red, positioned centromeric and telomeric to the BCL2 gene.
The IGH/BCL2 fusion gene is brought about by a t(14;18)(q32;q21) translocation and is found in over 88% of follicular lymphoma cases1,2.
The translocation is thought to be brought about by an error in the joining function of the IGH gene, mediated by the recent observation that both IGH and BCL2 are arranged next to each other in 3D space in the normal B lymphocytes2. The translocation breakpoint at the end of the Joining (J) segment, and the subsequent fusion of the BCL2 gene to this region, results in the BCL2 gene coming under the regulatory control of those processes normally involved in maintenance of IGH gene activity3.
The BCL2 gene itself has been shown to be involved in the regulation of apoptosis4.
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