Robert H. Carter

Interleukin 17-producing T helper cells and interleukin 17 orchestrate autoreactive germinal center development in autoimmune BXD2 mice.

Interleukin 17 (IL-17) is a cytokine associated with inflammation, autoimmunity and defense against some bacteria. Here we show that IL-17 can promote autoimmune disease through a mechanism distinct from its proinflammatory effects. As compared with wild-type mice, autoimmune BXD2 mice express more IL-17 and show spontaneous development of germinal centers (GCs) before they increase production of pathogenic autoantibodies. We show that blocking IL-17 signaling disrupts CD4+ T cell and B cell interactions required for the formation of GCs and that mice lacking the IL-17 receptor have reduced GC B cell development and humoral responses. Production of IL-17 correlates with upregulated expression of the genes Rgs13 and Rgs16, which encode regulators of G-protein signaling, and results in suppression of the B cell chemotactic response to the chemokine CXCL12. These findings suggest a mechanism by which IL-17 drives autoimmune responses by promoting the formation of spontaneous GCs.

CD19 as a Membrane-Anchored Adaptor Protein of B Lymphocytes: Costimulation of Lipid and Protein Kinases by Recruitment of Vav

CD19 is a coreceptor that amplifies signaling by membrane immunoglobulin (mIg) to promote responses of the B lymphocyte to T-dependent antigens. Vav is a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for the Rho, Rac, Cdc42 family of small GTPases. We found that coligating mIg and CD19 causes a synergistic increase in the tyrosine phosphorylation of CD19. Phosphorylated tyrosine-391 of CD19 binds Vav to mediate a sustained increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration. This response correlates with activation by the CD19-Vav complex of phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase for the synthesis of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate. Interaction of CD19 with Vav also mediates the synergistic activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase JNK. Therefore, CD19 is a membrane adaptor protein that recruits Vav for the activation of lipid and protein kinases.

The Tetraspanin CD81 Is Necessary for Partitioning of Coligated CD19/CD21-B Cell Antigen Receptor Complexes into Signaling-Active Lipid Rafts

Tetraspanins have been hypothesized to facilitate the organization of functional multimolecular membrane complexes. In B cells the tetraspanin CD81 is a component of the CD19/CD21 complex. When coligated to the B cell Ag receptor (BCR), the CD19/CD21 complex significantly enhances BCR signaling in part by prolonging the association of the BCR with signaling-active lipid rafts. In this study CD81 is shown to associate with lipid rafts upon coligation of the BCR and the CD19/CD21 complex. Using B cells from CD81-deficient mice we demonstrate that in the absence of CD81, coligated BCR and CD19/CD21 complexes fail to partition into lipid rafts and enhance BCR signaling from rafts. Furthermore, a chimeric CD19 protein that associates only weakly if at all with CD81 fails to promote the association of coligated BCR with lipid rafts. The requirement for CD81 to promote lipid raft association may define a novel mechanism by which tetraspanins function as molecular facilitators of signaling receptors.

The Physiologic Role of CD19 Cytoplasmic Tyrosines

The physiologic role of eight CD19 tyrosines was examined in CD19-knockout mice expressing transgenic CD19 constructs. CD19 Y482 and Y513 were essential for normal B cell biology, including differentiation of B1 and marginal zone B cells and for T-dependent and -independent antibody responses. In immunized mice with mutations in CD19 Y482 and Y513, early germinal center B cells appeared normal in phenotype and number, but maturation in the germinal center was defective. This was associated with retarded progression through the cell cycle. Thus, Y482 and Y513 are essential for all functions of CD19 in vivo. Mutation of these reduces proliferation in germinal center B cells, providing a potential mechanism for the failure of maturation, which abrogates antibody responses.

Systematic Analysis of the Role of CD19 Cytoplasmic Tyrosines in Enhancement of Activation in Daudi Human B Cells: Clustering of Phospholipase C and Vav and of Grb2 and Sos with Different CD19 Tyrosines

CD19 is a coreceptor on B cells that enhances the increase in cytoplasmic calcium and ERK2 activation when coligated with the B cell Ag receptor. Constructs containing point mutations and truncations were expressed in Daudi human B lymphoblastoid cells to systematically determine the requirement for individual CD19 cytoplasmic tyrosines in these responses. Evidence for activity was found for Y330, Y360, and Y421 as well as that previously published for Y391. Precipitates formed with phosphopeptides consisting of CD19 sequences flanking these residues were used to screen for cytoplasmic proteins that mediate signaling. Phosphopeptide Y330 precipitated Grb2 and Sos, whereas phosphopeptides Y391 and Y421 both precipitated Vav and phospholipase C-γ2. These molecules also were found associated with native CD19. In mapping studies with altered constructs, CD19 Y330 and/or Y360 were necessary for binding Grb2 and Sos. Vav associated with CD19 constitutively in unstimulated cells by a tyrosine-independent mechanism requiring the portion of CD19 encoded by exons 9–12. After B cell Ag receptor stimulation, Vav association was tyrosine-dependent, but binding was influenced by multiple residues. However, when maximally phosphorylated by pervanadate, Y391 and, to a lesser extent, Y421 were sufficient. CD19 Y391 was also both necessary and sufficient for binding phospholipase C-γ2. Thus, different tyrosines along the CD19 cytoplasmic domain provide scaffolding for the formation of complexes of different signaling molecules.

Marginal Zone B Cells Regulate Antigen Capture by Marginal Zone Macrophages

The marginal zone (MZ) of the mouse spleen contains macrophages that express receptors that trap pathogens, including the scavenger receptor macrophage receptor with a collagenous structure and the C-type lectin specific intracellular adhesion molecule-grabbing nonintegrin receptor 1 (SIGN-R1). We previously reported that expression of SIGN-R1 was decreased in CD19-deficient mice. In this study, we demonstrate that SIGN-R1 is expressed on a subset of macrophage receptor with a collagenous structure (MARCO)+ macrophages. This subset is diminished when MZ B cells are absent due to either genetic developmental defects or following transient migration of B cells out of the MZ. When B cells return to the MZ, there is a delay in recovery of SIGN-R1–expressing macrophages. During this period, capture of Ficoll, which for the macrophages requires SIGN-R1, remains defective not only by the macrophages, but also by the B cells. Thus, MZ B cells regulate expression of molecules on macrophages that are important for trapping Ag, which, in turn, is required for Ag capture by the B cells.

Deficiency of Act1, a critical modulator of B cell function, leads to development of Sjögren's syndrome.

CD40L and B lymphocyte‐activating factor (BAFF), members of the TNF superfamily, play critical roles in B cell survival and activation, and in the regulation of humoral immunity. We previously reported that the adaptor molecule Act1 functions as a negative regulator of CD40‐ and BAFF‐mediated B cell survival. Here we demonstrated that mice deficient in Act1 developed systemic autoimmune disease with histological and serological features of human Sjögrens syndrome (SS), in association with systemic lupus erythematosus‐like nephritis. Analyses of Act1−/−CD40−/− and Act1−/−BAFF−/− double‐deficient mice revealed that Act1 regulates different stages of the disease development through its impact on both CD40‐ and BAFF‐mediated pathways. We found that Act1 modulates the survival of autoreactive B cells mainly through its negative regulatory role in BAFF‐mediated cell survival, while the effect of Act1 on autoantibody production is likely through modulation of CD40‐mediated T cell‐dependent antibody response. The impact of Act1 on both BAFF and CD40 pathways establishes Act1‐deficient mice as a unique model to study distinct steps of autoimmunity and regulation of self tolerance.

B Cells in Health and Disease

B cells play a key role in regulating the immune system by producing antibodies, acting as antigen-presenting cells, providing support to other mononuclear cells, and contributing directly to Inflammatory pathways. Accumulating evidence points to disruption of these tightly regulated processes in the pathogenesis of autoimmune disorders. Although the exact mechanisms involved remain to be elucidated, a fundamental feature of many autoimmune disorders is a loss of B-cell tolerance and the inappropriate production of autoantibodies. Dysfunctional immune responses resulting from genetic mutations that cause intrinsic B-cell abnormalities and induction of autoimmunity in the T-cell compartment by B cells that have broken tolerance may also contribute to these disorders. These findings provide the rationale for B-cell depletion as a potential therapeutic strategy in autoimmune disorders and other disease states characterized by inappropriate immune responses. Preliminary results with the CD20-targeted monoclonal antibody rituximab indicate that rituximab can improve symptoms in a number of autoimmune and neurologic disorders (including rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and paraneoplastic neurologic syndromes). Additional studies are warranted to further characterize the role of B cells in autoimmune diseases and the therapeutic utility of B-cell depletion.

Cutting Edge: Primary and Secondary Effects of CD19 Deficiency on Cells of the Marginal Zone

Marginal zone (MZ) B cells are absent in CD19−/− mice. Possible causes include an intrinsic defect in B cells and/or a secondary defect in the extrinsic MZ microenvironment as a result of changes in B cell differentiation in mice lacking CD19. Cells in the MZ also include MZ macrophages (MZM) and MZ dendritic cells (DC). Although CD19 is only expressed on B cells, SIGN-R1+ MZM are absent and CD11c+ MZ DC distribution is abnormal in CD19−/− mice. Adoptively transferred B cells from normal mice are able to reconstitute MZ B cells in CD19−/− mice. In contrast, CD19−/− B cells could not enter the MZ of the normal mice. Furthermore, MZM distribution and MZ DC distribution are restored following MZ B cell reconstitution in CD19−/− mice. Thus, MZ B cells are required for MZM differentiation and MZ DC localization, but the deficiency of MZ B cells in CD19−/− mice is caused by a defect of intrinsic B cell signaling.

Antigen Receptor Proximal Signaling in Splenic B-2 Cell Subsets

Splenic marginal zone (MZ) and follicular mantle (FO) B cells differ in their responses to stimuli in vitro and in vivo. We have previously shown that MZ cells exhibit greater calcium responses after ligation of membrane IgM (mIgM). We have now investigated the molecular mechanism underlying the difference in calcium responses following ligation of mIgM and studied the response to total B cell receptor ligation in these two subsets. We compared key cellular proteins involved in calcium signaling in MZ and FO cells. Tyrosine phosphorylation and activity of phospholipase C-γ2 and Syk protein tyrosine kinase were significantly higher in MZ cells than in FO cells after mIgM engagement, providing a likely explanation for our previous findings. Tyrosine phosphorylation of CD22 and expression of Src homology 2-containing inositol phosphatase and Src homology 2-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase-1 were also higher in the MZ cells. Expression and tyrosine phosphorylation of Btk, BLNK, Vav, or phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase were equivalent. In contrast, stimulation with anti-κ induced equivalent increases in calcium and activation of Syk in the two subsets. These signals were also equivalent in cells from IgM transgenic, JH knockout mice, which have equivalent levels of IgM in both subsets. With total spleen B cells, Btk was maximally phosphorylated at a lower concentration of anti-κ than Syk. Thus, calcium signaling in the subsets of mature B cells reflects the amount of Ig ligated more than the isotype or the subset and this correlates with the relative tyrosine phosphorylation of Syk.