Antibody isotype-specific engagement of Fcgamma receptors regulates B lymphocyte depletion during CD20 immunotherapy.

CD20 monoclonal antibody (mAb) immunotherapy is effective for lymphoma and autoimmune disease. In a mouse model of immunotherapy using mouse anti-mouse CD20 mAbs, the innate monocyte network depletes B cells through immunoglobulin (Ig)G Fc receptor (FcgammaR)-dependent pathways with a hierarchy of IgG2a/c>IgG1/IgG2b>IgG3. To understand the molecular basis for these CD20 mAb subclass differences, B cell depletion was assessed in mice deficient or blocked for stimulatory FcgammaRI, FcgammaRIII, FcgammaRIV, or FcR common gamma chain, or inhibitory FcgammaRIIB. IgG1 CD20 mAbs induced B cell depletion through preferential, if not exclusive, interactions with low-affinity FcgammaRIII. IgG2b CD20 mAbs interacted preferentially with intermediate affinity FcgammaRIV. The potency of IgG2a/c CD20 mAbs resulted from FcgammaRIV interactions, with potential contributions from high-affinity FcgammaRI. Regardless, FcgammaRIV could mediate IgG2a/b/c CD20 mAb-induced depletion in the absence of FcgammaRI and FcgammaRIII. In contrast, inhibitory FcgammaRIIB deficiency significantly increased CD20 mAb-induced B cell depletion by enhancing monocyte function. Although FcgammaR-dependent pathways regulated B cell depletion from lymphoid tissues, both FcgammaR-dependent and -independent pathways contributed to mature bone marrow and circulating B cell clearance by CD20 mAbs. Thus, isotype-specific mAb interactions with distinct FcgammaRs contribute significantly to the effectiveness of CD20 mAbs in vivo, which may have important clinical implications for CD20 and other mAb-based therapies.

Complement component C3d-antigen complexes can either augment or inhibit B lymphocyte activation and humoral immunity in mice depending on the degree of CD21/CD19 complex engagement.

C3d can function as a molecular adjuvant by binding CD21 and thereby enhancing B cell activation and humoral immune responses. However, recent studies suggest both positive and negative roles for C3d and the CD19/CD21 signaling complex in regulating humoral immunity. To address whether signaling through the CD19/CD21 complex can negatively regulate B cell function when engaged by physiological ligands, diphtheria toxin (DT)-C3d fusion protein and C3dg-streptavidin (SA) complexes were used to assess the role of CD21 during BCR-induced activation and in vivo immune responses. Immunization of mice with DT-C3d3 significantly reduced DT-specific Ab responses independently of CD21 expression or signaling. By contrast, SA-C3dg tetramers dramatically enhanced anti-SA responses when used at low doses, whereas 10-fold higher doses did not augment immune responses, except in CD21/35-deficient mice. Likewise, SA-C3dg (1 microg/ml) dramatically enhanced BCR-induced intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) responses in vitro, but had no effect or inhibited [Ca2+]i responses when used at 10- to 50-fold higher concentrations. SA-C3dg enhancement of BCR-induced [Ca2+]i responses required CD21 and CD19 expression and resulted in significantly enhanced CD19 and Lyn phosphorylation, with enhanced Lyn/CD19 associations. BCR-induced CD22 phosphorylation and Src homology 2 domain-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase-1/CD22 associations were also reduced, suggesting abrogation of negative regulatory signaling. By contrast, CD19/CD21 ligation using higher concentrations of SA-C3dg significantly inhibited BCR-induced [Ca2+]i responses and inhibited CD19, Lyn, CD22, and Syk phosphorylation. Therefore, C3d may enhance or inhibit Ag-specific humoral immune responses through both CD21-dependent and -independent mechanisms depending on the concentration and nature of the Ag-C3d complexes.

Complementary roles for CD19 and Bruton's tyrosine kinase in B lymphocyte signal transduction.

CD19 and Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk) may function along common signaling pathways in regulating intrinsic and B cell Ag receptor (BCR)-induced signals. To identify physical and functional interactions between CD19 and Btk, a CD19-negative variant of the A20 B cell line was isolated, and CD19-deficient (CD19(-/-)) and CD19-overexpressing mice with the X-linked immunodeficient (Xid; Btk) mutation were generated. In A20 cells, Btk physically associated with CD19 following BCR engagement. CD19 and Btk interactions were not required for initial Btk phosphorylation, but CD19 expression maintained Btk in an activated state following BCR engagement. In primary B cells, CD19 signaling also required downstream Btk function since CD19-induced intracellular Ca(2+) ([Ca(2+)](i)) responses were modest in Xid B cells. In addition, CD19 overexpression did not normalize the Xid phenotype and most phenotypic and functional hallmarks of CD19 overexpression were not evident in these mice. However, CD19 and Btk also regulate independent signaling pathways since their combined loss had additive inhibitory effects on BCR-induced [Ca(2+)](i) responses and CD19 deficiency induced a severe immunodeficiency in Xid mice. Thus, CD19 expression amplifies or prolongs Btk-mediated signaling, rather than serving as a required agent for Btk activation. Consistent with this, phosphatidylinositol 3-monophosphate kinase and Akt activation were normal in CD19(-/-) B cells following IgM engagement, although their kinetics of activation was altered. Thus, these biochemical and compound gene dosage studies indicate that Btk activation and [Ca(2+)](i) responses following BCR engagement are regulated through multiple pathways, including a CD19/Src family kinase-dependent pathway that promotes the longevity of Btk signaling.