Figure 1.

Schematic illustration of the gene transcriptional program underlying B cell terminal differentiation and disruption by dioxin. Consistent with the coupled mutual inhibitions among the transcriptional repressors Bcl-6, Blimp-1, and Pax5, B cells have a transcriptional profile of high Bcl-6, low Blimp-1, high Pax5, and low IgM. Plasma cells have the inverse transcriptional profile. Arrows indicate activation, and lines ending with a bar indicate inhibition.