Increased intake of vegetable oil rich in n-6 PUFA enhances allergic symptoms and prevents oral tolerance induction in whey-allergic mice.

Increased intake of vegetable oils rich in n-6 PUFA, including soyabean oil, has been associated with an increase in allergic disease. The present study aimed to determine the effect of an increasing dose of dietary vegetable oil on allergic outcomes in mice. To study this, mice received a 7 v. 10 % soyabean oil diet before and during oral sensitisation with whey or whey hyperimmune serum transfer. Another group of mice received partial whey hydrolysate (pWH) while being fed the diets before oral sensitisation. The acute allergic skin response, serum Ig level, mouse mast cell protease-1 (mMCP-1) concentration and/or splenic T-cell percentages were determined upon whey challenge. When the diets were provided before and during oral sensitisation, the acute allergic skin response was increased in mice fed the 10 % soyabean oil diet compared with the 7 % soyabean oil diet. Whey IgE and IgG1 levels remained unaltered, whereas mMCP-1 levels increased in mice fed the 10 % soyabean oil diet. Furthermore, allergic symptoms were increased in naive mice fed the 10 % soyabean oil diet and sensitised with whey hyperimmune serum. In addition to enhancing the mast cell response, the 10 % soyabean oil diet increased the percentage of activated Th1 and Th2 cells as well as increased the ratios of Th2:regulatory T cells and Th2:Th1 when compared with the 7 % soyabean oil diet. Oral tolerance induction by pWH was abrogated in mice fed the 10 % soyabean oil diet compared with those fed the 7 % soyabean oil diet during pretreatment with pWH. In conclusion, increased intake of soyabean oil rich in n-6 PUFA suppresses tolerance induction by pWH and enhances the severity of the allergic effector response in whey-allergic mice. Dietary vegetable oils rich in n-6 PUFA may enhance the susceptibility to develop or sustain food allergy.

Btk levels set the threshold for B-cell activation and negative selection of autoreactive B cells in mice.

On antigen binding by the B-cell receptor (BCR), B cells up-regulate protein expression of the key downstream signaling molecule Bruton tyrosine kinase (Btk), but the effects of Btk up-regulation on B-cell function are unknown. Here, we show that transgenic mice overexpressing Btk specifically in B cells spontaneously formed germinal centers and manifested increased plasma cell numbers, leading to antinuclear autoantibody production and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)-like autoimmune pathology affecting kidneys, lungs, and salivary glands. Autoimmunity was fully dependent on Btk kinase activity, because Btk inhibitor treatment (PCI-32765) could normalize B-cell activation and differentiation, and because autoantibodies were absent in Btk transgenic mice overexpressing a kinase inactive Btk mutant. B cells overexpressing wild-type Btk were selectively hyperresponsive to BCR stimulation and showed enhanced Ca(2+) influx, nuclear factor (NF)-κB activation, resistance to Fas-mediated apoptosis, and defective elimination of selfreactive B cells in vivo. These findings unravel a crucial role for Btk in setting the threshold for B-cell activation and counterselection of autoreactive B cells, making Btk an attractive therapeutic target in systemic autoimmune disease such as SLE. The finding of in vivo pathology associated with Btk overexpression may have important implications for the development of gene therapy strategies for X-linked agammaglobulinemia, the immunodeficiency associated with mutations in BTK.

Constitutive activation of Bruton's tyrosine kinase induces the formation of autoreactive IgM plasma cells.

B-cell receptor (BCR)-mediated signals provide the basis for B-cell differentiation in the BM and subsequently into follicular, marginal zone, or B-1 B-cell subsets. We have previously shown that B-cell-specific expression of the constitutive active E41K mutant of the BCR-associated molecule Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk) leads to an almost complete deletion of immature B cells in the BM. Here, we report that low-level expression of the E41K or E41K-Y223F Btk mutants was associated with reduced follicular B-cell numbers and significantly increased proportions of B-1 cells in the spleen. Crosses with 3-83 mu delta and VH81X BCR Tg mice showed that constitutive active Btk expression did not change follicular, marginal zone, or B-1 B-cell fate choice, but resulted in selective expansion or survival of B-1 cells. Residual B cells were hyperresponsive and manifested sustained Ca(2+) mobilization. They were spontaneously driven into germinal center-independent plasma cell differentiation, as evidenced by increased numbers of IgM(+) plasma cells in spleen and BM and significantly elevated serum IgM. Because anti-nucleosome autoantibodies and glomerular IgM deposition were present, we conclude that constitutive Btk activation causes defective B-cell tolerance, emphasizing that Btk signals are essential for appropriate regulation of B-cell activation.

The ß-human chorionic gonadotropin-related peptide LQGV reduces mortality and inflammation in a murine polymicrobial sepsis model.

OBJECTIVE: Mortality in sepsis remains high and efforts to modulate the inflammatory response so far mostly failed to improve survival. The human chorionic gonadotropin-related tetrapeptide LQGV was recently shown to exert anti-inflammatory activity. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of LQGV on cecal ligation and puncture-induced mortality and inflammation. DESIGN: Animal study. SETTING: University research laboratory. SUBJECTS: Male C57BL/6 mice. INTERVENTIONS: To examine the effect of LQGV by itself on cecal ligation and puncture-induced mortality and inflammation, C57BL/6 mice were exposed to a moderate cecal ligation and puncture procedure (40% ligation and double puncture) with a mortality rate of approximately 80% within 5 days in control mice. In addition, to examine whether LQGV was of additive value to standard sepsis care (antibiotics and fluid resuscitation), a more severe cecal ligation and puncture procedure was used (80% ligation and double puncture), yielding approximately 100% mortality within 12 days in control mice. LQGV (5 mg/kg body weight), phosphate-buffered saline (as control), or dexamethasone (2.5 mg/kg body weight) was administered perioperatively. Survival was monitored for 21 days and inflammatory markers were determined in plasma, peritoneal cavity, and lungs. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: LQGV significantly improved survival from 20% to 50% during the first 5 days after moderate cecal ligation and puncture. This was associated with reduced cytokine and E-selectin levels in peritoneal lavage fluid, lungs, and, to a lesser extent, in plasma. LQGV treatment also reduced pulmonary nuclear factor-κB activation and pulmonary damage. In the severe cecal ligation and puncture model, LQGV combined with fluid resuscitation and antibiotics resulted in significantly better survival (70%) than that observed with fluid resuscitation and antibiotics alone (30%). CONCLUSIONS: LQGV improves survival after cecal ligation and puncture. This is likely established by a modest reduction of the acute inflammatory response through a nuclear factor-κB-dependent mechanism. Furthermore, LQGV may be a valuable additive next to the standard care in polymicrobial sepsis.

Critical role for the transcription regulator CCCTC-binding factor in the control of Th2 cytokine expression.

Differentiation of naive CD4+ cells into Th2 cells is accompanied by chromatin remodeling at the Th2 cytokine locus allowing the expression of the IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 genes. In this report, we investigated the role in Th2 differentiation of the transcription regulator CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF). Chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis revealed multiple CTCF binding sites in the Th2 cytokine locus. Conditional deletion of the Ctcf gene in double-positive thymocytes allowed development of peripheral T cells, but their activation and proliferation upon anti-CD3/anti-CD28 stimulation in vitro was severely impaired. Nevertheless, when TCR signaling was circumvented with phorbol ester and ionomycin, we observed proliferation of CTCF-deficient T cells, enabling the analysis of Th2 differentiation in vitro. We found that in CTCF-deficient Th2 polarization cultures, transcription of IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 was strongly reduced. By contrast, CTCF deficiency had a moderate effect on IFN-gamma production in Th1 cultures and IL-17 production in Th17 cultures was unaffected. Consistent with a Th2 cytokine defect, CTCF-deficient mice had very low levels of IgG1 and IgE in their serum, but IgG2c was close to normal. In CTCF-deficient Th2 cultures, cells were polarized toward the Th2 lineage, as substantiated by induction of the key transcriptional regulators GATA3 and special AT-rich binding protein 1 (SATB1) and down-regulation of T-bet. Also, STAT4 expression was low, indicating that in the absence of CTCF, GATA3 still operated as a negative regulator of STAT4. Taken together, these findings show that CTCF is essential for GATA3- and SATB1-dependent regulation of Th2 cytokine gene expression.

Bruton's tyrosine kinase cooperates with the B cell linker protein SLP-65 as a tumor suppressor in Pre-B cells.

Expression of the pre-B cell receptor (pre-BCR) leads to activation of the adaptor molecule SLP-65 and the cytoplasmic kinase Btk. Mice deficient for one of these signaling proteins have an incomplete block in B cell development at the stage of large cycling pre-BCR+CD43+ pre-B cells. Our recent findings of defective SLP-65 expression in approximately 50% of childhood pre-B acute lymphoblastic leukemias and spontaneous pre-B cell lymphoma development in SLP-65-/- mice demonstrate that SLP-65 acts as a tumor suppressor. To investigate cooperation between Btk and SLP-65, we characterized the pre-B cell compartment in single and double mutant mice, and found that the two proteins have a synergistic role in the developmental progression of large cycling into small resting pre-B cells. We show that Btk/SLP-65 double mutant mice have a dramatically increased pre-B cell tumor incidence ( approximately 75% at 16 wk of age), as compared with SLP-65 single deficient mice (<10%). These findings demonstrate that Btk cooperates with SLP-65 as a tumor suppressor in pre-B cells. Furthermore, transgenic low-level expression of a constitutive active form of Btk, the E41K-Y223F mutant, prevented tumor formation in Btk/SLP-65 double mutant mice, indicating that constitutive active Btk can substitute for SLP-65 as a tumor suppressor.

Cooperation of Gata3, c-Myc and Notch in malignant transformation of double positive thymocytes.

Gata transcription factors are critical regulators of proliferation and differentiation implicated in various human cancers, but specific genes activated by Gata proteins remain to be identified. We previously reported that enforced expression of Gata3 during T cell development in CD2-Gata3 transgenic mice induced CD4(+)CD8(+) double-positive (DP) T cell lymphoma. Here, we show that the presence of the DO11.10 T-cell receptor transgene, which directs DP cells towards the CD4 lineage, resulted in enhanced lymphoma development and a dramatic increase in thymocyte cell size in CD2-Gata3 transgenic mice. CD2-Gata3 DP cells expressed high levels of the proto-oncogene c-Myc but the Notch1 signaling pathway, which is known to induce c-Myc, was not activated. Gene expression profiling showed that in CD2-Gata3 lymphoma cells transcription of c-Myc and its target genes was further increased. A substantial fraction of CD2-Gata3 lymphomas had trisomy of chromosome 15, leading to an increased c-Myc gene dose. Interestingly, most lymphomas showed high expression of the Notch targets Deltex1 and Hes1, often due to activating Notch1 PEST domain mutations. Therefore, we conclude that enforced Gata3 expression converts DP thymocytes into a pre-malignant state, characterized by high c-Myc expression, whereby subsequent induction of Notch1 signaling cooperates to establish malignant transformation. The finding that Gata3 regulates c-Myc expression levels, in a direct or indirect fashion, may explain the parallel phenotypes of mice with overexpression or deficiency of either of the two transcription factors.

Post-sensitization administration of non-digestible oligosaccharides and Bifidobacterium breve M-16V reduces allergic symptoms in mice.

To support dietary management of severe cow's milk allergic infants, a synbiotic mixture of non-digestible oligosaccharides and Bifidobacterium breve M-16V (B. breve) was designed from source materials that are completely cow's milk-free. It was investigated whether this specific synbiotic concept can reduce an established food allergic response in a research model for hen's egg allergy. Mice were orally sensitized once a week for 5 weeks to ovalbumin (OVA) using cholera toxin (CT) as an adjuvant. Non-sensitized mice received CT in PBS only. Sensitized mice were fed a control diet or a diet enriched with short-chain- (scFOS) and long-chain fructo-oligosaccharides (lcFOS), B. breve or scFOSlcFOS + B. breve for 3 weeks starting after the last sensitization. Non-sensitized mice received the control diet. Anaphylactic shock symptoms, acute allergic skin responses and serum specific IgE, mMCP-1 and galectin-9 were measured upon OVA challenge. Activated Th2-, Th1-cells and regulatory T-cells were quantified in spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) and cytokine profiles were analyzed. Short chain fatty acids (SCFA) were measured in ceacal samples. The acute allergic skin response was reduced in mice fed the scFOSlcFOS + B. breve diet compared to mice fed any of the other diets. A reduction in mast cell degranulation (mMCP-1) and anaphylactic shock symptoms was also observed in these mice. Unstimulated splenocyte cultures produced increased levels of IL10 and IFNg in mice fed the scFOSlcFOS + B. breve diet. Correspondingly, increased percentages of activated Th1 cells were observed in the spleen. Allergen-specific re-stimulation of splenocytes showed a decrease in IL5 production. In summary; post-sensitization administration of scFOSlcFOS + B. breve was effective in reducing allergic symptoms after allergen challenge. These effects coincided with changes in regulatory and effector T-cell subsets and increases in the SCFA propionic acid. These results suggest immune modulatory benefits of dietary intervention with a unique combination of scFOSlcFOS + B. breve in established food allergy. Whether these effects translate to human applications is subject for ongoing clinical studies.

The neonatal Fc receptor is expressed by human retinal pigment epithelial cells and is downregulated by tumour necrosis factor-alpha.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) protects immunoglobulin G (IgG) from catabolism, controls its transport between cell layers and extends its serum half-life. In the human, vitreous IgG can be found, but how vitreous IgG is processed or transported is currently unknown. The FcRn is a candidate molecule to regulate these processes. The authors examined FcRn expression and regulation in human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells. METHODS: In three primary RPE cell cultures (from three donor eyes) and in the human RPE cell line ARPE-19, FcRn and beta-2-microglobulin (ß2M) mRNA levels were determined by real-time quantitative PCR. FcRn protein expression was analysed by western blot studies. Stimulation experiments were performed with recombinant human tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interferon (IFN)-γ. HT-29, THP-1 and HeLa cell lines were used as FcRn positive and negative non-ocular controls, respectively. RESULTS: Expression of FcRn mRNA and protein was demonstrated in all three RPE cultures. After stimulation with TNF-α, FcRn expression is downregulated in RPE cells and upregulated in HT-29 and THP-1 cells. IFN-γ has no effect on FcRn expression in RPE cells. CONCLUSIONS: Human RPE cells express FcRn. The proinflammatory cytokine TNF-α downregulates FcRn expression. The authors speculate that the FcRn may play a pivotal role in the immune privilege of the human eye.

Platelet-derived growth factor-BB: a stimulus for cytokine production by orbital fibroblasts in Graves' ophthalmopathy.

PURPOSE: Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO) is characterized by the infiltration of immune cells into the orbit, a process in which cytokines play a central role. Orbital fibroblasts are potent producers of cytokines on different stimuli. Recently, the authors showed increased expression of the PDGF-B chain in GO orbital tissue. The dimeric PDGF-BB molecule has been described to activate the NF-kappaB pathway, which is well recognized for its role in regulating cytokine production. This study was conducted to determine the role of PDGF-BB in the production of proinflammatory cytokines by orbital fibroblasts in GO. METHODS: Orbital, lung, and skin fibroblasts were stimulated with PDGF-BB, and cytokine (IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-8, IL-16, CCL2, CCL5, CCL7, TNF-alpha) production was measured by ELISA. Involvement of NF-kappaB activation through PDGF signaling was investigated by electrophoretic mobility shift assay, specific NF-kappaB inhibitors, and the PDGF-receptor kinase inhibitor imatinib mesylate. RESULTS: IL-6, IL-8, CCL2, CCL5, and CCL7 production by orbital fibroblasts was increased by PDGF-BB stimulation, whereas IL-16, IL-1beta, and TNF-alpha production was not affected. PDGF-BB induced NF-kappaB activity in orbital fibroblasts, and both NF-kappaB inhibitors and imatinib mesylate reduced PDGF-BB-induced cytokine production. Similar, but less vigorous, effects of PDGF-BB on cytokine production were observed in lung and skin fibroblasts. CONCLUSIONS: PDGF-BB is a potent inducer of proinflammatory cytokines via the NF-kappaB pathway in orbital fibroblasts, whereas cytokine production by fibroblasts from other anatomic locations showed a moderate response. These data suggest a possible role for PDGF-BB in regulating orbital inflammation in GO and identify the PDGF signaling cascade as a therapeutic target in GO.

Gene expression profiling in mice with enforced Gata3 expression reveals putative targets of Gata3 in double positive thymocytes.

The zinc-finger transcription factors Gata3 and ThPOK have both been implicated in positive selection of double positive (DP) thymocytes towards the CD4 lineage. As in the absence of Gata3, expression of ThPOK is lacking, Gata3 may directly regulate ThPOK expression. As ThPOK failed to promote CD4(+) lineage differentiation of Gata3-deficient cells, ThPOK cannot be the only Gata3 target gene essential for the induction of the CD4(+) lineage program. Therefore, it is conceivable that Gata3 is essential for selected DP T cells to reach the developmental stage at which ThPOK expression is induced. Here, we show that Gata3 overexpression does not affect ThPOK expression levels in DP or CD4(+) thymocytes, providing evidence that Gata3 does not directly regulate ThPOK. To identify additional target genes that clarify Gata3 function at the DP thymocyte stage, we performed gene expression profiling assays in wild-type mice and transgenice mice with enforced expression of Gata3, in the presence or absence of the MHC class II-restricted DO11.10 TCR. We found that Gata3 expression in DP cells undergoing positive selection was associated with downregulation of the V(D)J-recombination machinery genes Rag1, Rag2 and TdT. Moreover, Gata3 overexpression was associated with downregulation of many signaling molecules and the induction of modulators of TCR signaling, including Ctla-4 and thrombospondin 2. Together with our previous finding that Gata3 reduces expression of CD5, a negative regulator of TCR signaling, and upregulates TCR expression, these findings indicate that Gata3 in DP cells mainly functions to (i) terminate TCRalpha gene rearrangement, and (ii) regulate TCR signal intensity or duration in cells undergoing positive selection towards the CD4 lineage.

Imatinib mesylate and AMN107 inhibit PDGF-signaling in orbital fibroblasts: a potential treatment for Graves' ophthalmopathy.

PURPOSE: Excessive orbital fibroblast proliferation and hyaluronan production are characteristic of Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO) and are driven by local mediators. Imatinib mesylate and AMN107 are tyrosine kinase inhibitors that inhibit fibroblast proliferation and collagen production in lungs and skin. This study was conducted to determine whether imatinib mesylate and AMN107 inhibit orbital fibroblast proliferation and hyaluronan production induced by PDGF-BB and TGF-beta(1) and whether expression of the genes PDGF-B and TGF-B(1) (growth factors suggested to play a role in GO) are increased in GO orbital tissues. METHODS: PDGF-B and TGF-B(1) mRNA levels were determined in orbital tissues of 13 patients with GO and 5 control patients. Orbital fibroblasts were cultured from eight patients with GO and three control patients and the effect of imatinib mesylate and AMN107 on PDGF-BB and TGF-beta(1)-induced orbital fibroblast proliferation, signaling cascades, hyaluronan synthase (HAS) gene expression and hyaluronan production were determined. RESULTS: PDGF-B and TGF-B(1) mRNA levels were significantly increased in GO orbital tissues. Imatinib mesylate and AMN107 inhibited PDGF-BB-induced orbital fibroblast proliferation, HAS induction and hyaluronan production by blocking PDGF-receptor phosphorylation. TGF-beta(1) induced HAS expression and hyaluronan production. This induction was not inhibited by imatinib mesylate or AMN107, due to the inability of TGF-beta(1) to activate c-Abl kinase activity in orbital fibroblasts. CONCLUSIONS: Imatinib mesylate and AMN107 inhibit orbital fibroblast proliferation and hyaluronan production induced by PDGF-BB; a factor highly expressed in orbital tissue from patients with GO. The drugs, however, had no effect on TGF-beta(1)-induced HAS expression and hyaluronan production. Nevertheless, imatinib mesylate and AMN107 should be considered as treatment candidates for GO.

Surrogate-light-chain silencing is not critical for the limitation of pre-B cell expansion but is for the termination of constitutive signaling.

The pre-B cell receptor (pre-BCR), composed of immunoglobulin mu heavy chain and the surrogate light chain (SLC) proteins lambda5 and Vpreb, signals for proliferation and maturation of developing pre-B cells. It has been assumed that pre-B cells stop cycling by the pre-BCR-mediated downregulation of SLC transcription. We generated transgenic mice expressing SLC throughout B cell development and, remarkably, found that enforced SLC expression had no effect on pre-B cell proliferation or differentiation. However, in the presence of conventional immunoglobulin light chains, SLC components had the capacity to induce constitutive BCR internalization, secondary immunoglobulin light-chain rearrangement, and a severe developmental arrest of immature B cells, dependent on the adaptor protein Slp65. Residual B cells in the spleen showed increased expression of surface CD5, which is a negative regulator of BCR signaling, and differentiated spontaneously into IgM+ plasma cells. Thus, the silencing of SLC genes is not essential for the limitation of pre-B cell proliferation, but is required for the prevention of constitutive activation of B cells.

GATA3 controls the expression of CD5 and the T cell receptor during CD4 T cell lineage development.

The transcription factor GATA3 is essential at multiple stages of T cell development, including the earliest double-negative stages, beta-selection and CD4 single-positive thymocytes. Here, we show that in CD2-GATA3 transgenic mice, with enforced GATA3 expression driven by the CD2 promoter, thymocytes have reduced levels of CD5, which is a negative regulator of TCR signaling participating in TCR repertoire fine-tuning. Reduction of CD5 expression was most prominent in CD4(+)CD8(+) double-positive (DP) cells and was associated with increased levels of the transcription factor E2A. Conversely, GATA3-deficient DP thymocytes showed consistently higher CD5 levels and defective TCR up-regulation during their development towards the CD4(lo)CD8(lo) subpopulation. CD2-GATA3 transgenic mice carrying the MHC class II-restricted TCR DO11.10 also manifested decreased CD5 levels. As in these TCR-transgenic mice reduced CD5 expression cannot result from an effect of GATA3 on repertoire selection, we conclude that enforced GATA3 interferes with the developmentally regulated increase of CD5 levels. Enforced GATA3 expression in DO11.10 transgenic mice was also accompanied by enhanced TCR expression during CD4 positive selection. Because GATA3 is induced by TCR signaling in DP thymocytes, our findings indicate that GATA3 establishes a positive feedback loop that increases TCR surface expression in developing CD4 lineage cells.

Tumor suppressor function of Bruton tyrosine kinase is independent of its catalytic activity.

During B-cell development in the mouse, Bruton tyrosine kinase (Btk) and the adaptor protein SLP-65 (Src homology 2 [SH2] domain-containing leukocyte protein of 65 kDa) limit the expansion and promote the differentiation of pre-B cells. Btk is thought to mainly function by phosphorylating phospholipase Cgamma2, which is brought into close proximity of Btk by SLP-65. However, this model was recently challenged by the identification of a role for Btk as a tumor suppressor in the absence of SLP-65 and by the finding that Btk function is partially independent of its kinase activity. To investigate if enzymatic activity is critical for the tumor suppressor function of Btk, we crossed transgenic mice expressing the kinase-inactive K430R-Btk mutant onto a Btk/SLP-65 double-deficient background. We found that K430R-Btk expression rescued the severe developmental arrest at the pre-B-cell stage in Btk/SLP-65 double-deficient mice. Moreover, K430R-Btk could functionally replace wild-type Btk as a tumor suppressor in SLP-65- mice: at 6 months of age, the observed pre-B-cell lymphoma frequencies were approximately 15% for SLP-65- mice, 44% for Btk/SLP-65-deficient mice, and 14% for K430R-Btk transgenic mice on the Btk/SLP-65-deficient background. Therefore, we conclude that Btk exerts its tumor suppressor function in pre-B cells as an adaptor protein, independent of its catalytic activity.

Impaired precursor B cell differentiation in Bruton's tyrosine kinase-deficient mice.

Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk) is a cytoplasmic signaling molecule that is crucial for precursor (pre-B) cell differentiation in humans. In this study, we show that during the transition of large cycling to small resting pre-B cells in the mouse, Btk-deficient cells failed to efficiently modulate the expression of CD43, surrogate L chain, CD2, and CD25. In an analysis of the kinetics of pre-B cell differentiation in vivo, Btk-deficient cells manifested a specific developmental delay within the small pre-B cell compartment of about 3 h, when compared with wild-type cells. Likewise, in in vitro bone marrow cultures, Btk-deficient large cycling pre-B cells showed increased IL-7 mediated expansion and reduced developmental progression into noncycling CD2(+)CD25(+) surrogate L chain-negative small pre-B cells and subsequently into Ig-positive B cells. Furthermore, the absence of Btk resulted in increased proliferative responses to IL-7 in recombination-activating gene-1-deficient pro-B cells. These findings identify a novel role for Btk in the regulation of the differentiation stage-specific modulation of IL-7 responsiveness in pro-B and pre-B cells. Moreover, our results show that Btk is critical for an efficient transit through the small pre-B cell compartment, thereby regulating cell surface phenotype changes during the developmental progression of cytoplasmic mu H chain expressing pre-B cells into immature IgM(+) B cells.

A subfraction of B220(+) cells in murine bone marrow and spleen does not belong to the B cell lineage but has dendritic cell characteristics.

Although CD45R/B220 is commonly used as a pan-B cell marker in the mouse, not all B220(+) cells belong to the B cell lineage. Here we report the characterization of a subpopulation of B220(+)CD19(-) cells in murine bone marrow, which failed to express markers that are present in early CD19(--) B cell precursors. Instead, these cells expressed low levels of MHC class II and CD11c, which are typically found on dendritic cells (DC). Moreover, these B220(+)CD19(-)CD11c(+) cells expressed Gr-1, indicating that they are related to the recently identified murine plasmacytoid DC or their progenitors. Therefore, we evaluated surface marker expression of the B220(+)CD19(-)CD11c(+) cells in lymphoid tissues of C57BL/6 mice, recombinase activating gene-1 deficient mice, lacking mature B and T lymphocytes, and mice with a targeted disruption of the Ig H chain mu membrane exon (mu MT), lacking mature B lymphocytes. When comparing bone marrow and spleen, we found that the surface profiles of B220(+)CD19(-)CD11c(+) cells were remarkably similar, indicating that they are in a comparable maturation or activation stage in the two lymphoid compartments. In addition, the almost complete absence of peripheral B220(+) B-lineage cells in mu MT mice allowed the anatomical localization of the B220(+)CD19(-)CD11c(+) cells to the red pulp and the T cell areas in the spleen. Taken together, our findings indicate that the mouse bone marrow contains a recirculating population of B220(+)CD19(-) CD11c(+) plasmacytoid DC, the development of which is largely independent of the presence of mature T and B cells.

Function of Bruton's tyrosine kinase during B cell development is partially independent of its catalytic activity.

The Tec family member Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk) is a cytoplasmic protein tyrosine kinase that transduces signals from the pre-B and B cell receptor (BCR). Btk is involved in pre-B cell maturation by regulating IL-7 responsiveness, cell surface phenotype changes, and the activation of lambda L chain gene rearrangements. In mature B cells, Btk is essential for BCR-mediated proliferation and survival. Upon BCR stimulation, Btk is transphosphorylated at position Y551, which promotes its catalytic activity and subsequently results in autophosphorylation at position Y223 in the Src homology 3 domain. To address the significance of Y223 autophosphorylation and the requirement of enzymatic activity for Btk function in vivo, we generated transgenic mice that express the autophosphorylation site mutant Y223F and the kinase-inactive mutant K430R, respectively. We found that Y223 autophosphorylation was not required for the regulation of IL-7 responsiveness and cell surface phenotype changes in differentiating pre-B cells, or for peripheral B cell differentiation. However, expression of the Y223F-Btk transgene could not fully rescue the reduction of lambda L chain usage in Btk-deficient mice. In contrast, transgenic expression of kinase-inactive K430R-Btk completely reconstituted lambda usage in Btk-deficient mice, but the defective modulation of pre-B cell surface markers, peripheral B cell survival, and BCR-mediated NF-kappaB induction were partially corrected. From these findings, we conclude that: 1) autophosphorylation at position Y223 is not essential for Btk function in vivo, except for regulation of lambda L chain usage, and 2) during B cell development, Btk partially acts as an adapter molecule, independent of its catalytic activity.