Critical elements of the immunoglobulin heavy chain gene enhancers for deregulated expression of bcl-2.

Translocation of the bcl-2 gene to the immunoglobulin heavy chain gene is the most common alteration in follicular lymphoma. The result is the deregulated expression of bcl-2 and increased resistance to cell death. Regulation of the immunoglobulin heavy chain gene is controlled in part by four DNase I-hypersensitive regions located 3' of the gene.