miR-217 dampens the DNA damage response in germinal center B cells, and through this—and perhaps additional functions—promotes BCL6 expression and stabilization. This is presumably one of the main ways how miR-217 promotes germinal center B-cell proliferation, somatic hypermutation, and class switching. All these functions of miR-217 increase the risk for the development of B-cell lymphomas from germinal center B cells. Arrows indicate a positive influence; the T-shaped lines indicate an inhibitory effect.