Metabolic fitness of IgA+ plasma cells in the gut requires DOCK8.

Dedicator of cytokinesis 8 (DOCK8) mutations lead to a primary immunodeficiency associated with recurrent gastrointestinal infections and poor antibody responses but, paradoxically, heightened IgE to food antigens, suggesting that DOCK8 is central to immune homeostasis in the gut. Using Dock8-deficient mice, we found that DOCK8 was necessary for mucosal IgA production to multiple T cell-dependent antigens, including peanut and cholera toxin. Yet DOCK8 was not necessary in T cells for this phenotype. Instead, B cell-intrinsic DOCK8 was required for maintenance of antigen-specific IgA-secreting plasma cells (PCs) in the gut lamina propria. Unexpectedly, DOCK8 was not required for early B cell activation, migration, or IgA class switching. An unbiased interactome screen revealed novel protein partners involved in metabolism and apoptosis. Dock8-deficient IgA+ B cells had impaired cellular respiration and failed to engage glycolysis appropriately. These results demonstrate that maintenance of the IgA+ PC compartment requires DOCK8 and suggest that gut IgA+ PCs have unique metabolic requirements for long-term survival in the lamina propria.

Don't FRET-Antigens in the follicle are protected from degradation.

Low protease activity in the FDC network is crucial for intact antigen retention and has translational potential for more effective vaccination strategies.

Chat-ty B cells talk down hematopoiesis.

B cells produce acetylcholine that is sensed by bone marrow stromal cells and reduces hematopoiesis.

Fishing for a complement signal in the germinal center.

Complement signaling on B cells affects germinal center dynamics.