The Mix1 homeobox-like (MIXL1) gene encodes a paired class homeobox transcription factor that is involved in embryogenesis and regulate cell fate during development.
Pathology
MIXL1 gene product is expressed in B- and T-cell progenitors of normal bone marrow and, in some cell lines derived from hematopoietic neoplasms.
High MIXL1 expression was detected more frequently in Burkitt lymphoma and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma compared with other types of B-cell NHL.
Most cases of T-cell NHL and all cases of HL also highly expressed MIXL1.
Most plasma cell myelomas are negative for MIXL1, but rare cases had low MIXL1 expression.
MIXL1 expression significantly correlated with proliferation index (Ki-67) in B-cell NHL (P < .0001).
The frequent and high expression of MIXL1 in aggressive B-cell NHL, T-cell NHL, and HL suggests that MIXL1 may be involved in lymphomagenesis.
References
Drakos E, Rassidakis GZ, Leventaki V, Guo W, Medeiros LJ, Nagarajan L. Differential expression of the human MIXL1 gene product in non-Hodgkin and Hodgkin lymphomas. Hum Pathol. 2007 Mar;38(3):500-7. PMID: 17303500