BACH2 mediates negative selection and p53-dependent tumor suppression at the pre-B cell receptor checkpoint

The B cell-specific transcription factor BACH2 is required for affinity maturation of mature B cells. Here, we show that Bach2-mediated activation of p53 is required for stringent elimination of pre-B cells that failed to productively rearrange immunoglobulin V(H)-DJ(H) gene segments. Upon productive V(H)-DJ(H) gene rearrangement, pre-B cell receptor signaling ends negative selection through BCL6-mediated repression of p53. In patients with pre-B ALL, BACH2-mediated checkpoint control is frequently compromised. Low levels of BACH2 expression represent a strong independent predictor of poor clinical outcome. Bach2(+/+) pre-B cells resist leukemic transformation by Myc through Bach2-dependent upregulation of p53, and fail to initiate fatal leukemia in transplant recipient mice. ChIP-seq and gene expression analyses reveal that BACH2 competes with BCL6 for promoter binding and reverses BCL6-mediated repression of p53 and other checkpoint control genes. These findings identify Bach2 as a critical mediator negative selection at the pre-B cell receptor checkpoint and a safeguard against leukemogenesis.