This result is not due to sex differences in PHB1 and PHB2 expression in patients (Additional file 1: Table S1), as it was also suggested by data on normal peripheral B cells and DLBCL cell lines (Fig. 1a, where SUDHL4, SUDHL6 and OCI-LY3 are derived from males and OCI-LY10 is derived from female patient). This evidence concerns the gene CD8B and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.