Figure 5: NKX2-3 induces activation of BCR and downstream signalling pathways in mouse B-cell lymphomas.

(a) Western blot analysis showed increase in AKT phosphorylation levels in splenic CD19⁺ cells isolated from 18-month-old transgenic (TG) mice in comparison to WT cells, whereas similar levels of phosphorylation of Jnk (p36/p54) and p38 proteins were detected. (b) Western blot analysis showed similar RelB and p100/p52 expression in transgenic and WT cells, excluding activation of non-canonical NF-κB pathway. However, expression of p50 and of c-Rel proteins was higher in 18-month-old B-cell lymphoma cells in comparison to WT cells, indicating triggering of the canonical NF-κB pathway. Two representative transgenic and WT CD19⁺ splenic B cells are depicted. (c) Western blot analysis of p105 and p50 proteins in cytoplasmic (C) and nuclear (N) extracts from WT and 18-month-old transgenic CD19⁺ splenic cells. (d) Heat-map image showing gene components of the NF-κB pathway and NF-κB target genes (http://www.bu.edu/nf-kb/gene-resources/target-genes) differentially expressed between 18-month-old splenic B-cell lymphoma cells and WT splenic CD19⁺ B lymphocytes. (e) Western blot analysis of cell cycle proteins in splenic CD19⁺ cells isolated from WT and transgenic mice.