scholarly journals B cell–intrinsic TBK1 is essential for germinal center formation during infection and vaccination in mice

2021 ◽  
Vol 219 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle S.J. Lee ◽  
Takeshi Inoue ◽  
Wataru Ise ◽  
Julia Matsuo-Dapaah ◽  
James B. Wing ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
B Cells ◽  
B Cell ◽  
Cell Fate ◽  
Germinal Center ◽  
Somatic Hypermutation ◽  
Clonal Selection ◽  
Intrinsic Factor ◽  
Affinity Maturation ◽  
Bcl6 Expression ◽  
A Site

The germinal center (GC) is a site where somatic hypermutation and clonal selection are coupled for antibody affinity maturation against infections. However, how GCs are formed and regulated is incompletely understood. Here, we identified an unexpected role of Tank-binding kinase-1 (TBK1) as a crucial B cell–intrinsic factor for GC formation. Using immunization and malaria infection models, we show that TBK1-deficient B cells failed to form GC despite normal Tfh cell differentiation, although some malaria-infected B cell–specific TBK1-deficient mice could survive by GC-independent mechanisms. Mechanistically, TBK1 phosphorylation elevates in B cells during GC differentiation and regulates the balance of IRF4/BCL6 expression by limiting CD40 and BCR activation through noncanonical NF-κB and AKTT308 signaling. In the absence of TBK1, CD40 and BCR signaling synergistically enhanced IRF4 expression in Pre-GC, leading to BCL6 suppression, and therefore failed to form GCs. As a result, memory B cells generated from TBK1-deficient B cells fail to confer sterile immunity upon reinfection, suggesting that TBK1 determines B cell fate to promote long-lasting humoral immunity.

scholarly journals WASp Is Crucial for the Unique Architecture of the Immunological Synapse in Germinal Center B-Cells

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanan Li ◽  
Anshuman Bhanja ◽  
Arpita Upadhyaya ◽  
Xiaodong Zhao ◽  
Wenxia Song
Keyword(s):  
B Cells ◽  
B Cell ◽  
Lipid Bilayers ◽  
Germinal Center ◽  
Actin Polymerization ◽  
Immunological Synapse ◽  
Somatic Hypermutation ◽  
Affinity Maturation ◽  
Membrane Protrusions ◽  
Germinal Center B Cells

B-cells undergo somatic hypermutation and affinity maturation in germinal centers. Somatic hypermutated germinal center B-cells (GCBs) compete to engage with and capture antigens on follicular dendritic cells. Recent studies show that when encountering membrane antigens, GCBs generate actin-rich pod-like structures with B-cell receptor (BCR) microclusters to facilitate affinity discrimination. While deficiencies in actin regulators, including the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASp), cause B-cell affinity maturation defects, the mechanism by which actin regulates BCR signaling in GBCs is not fully understood. Using WASp knockout (WKO) mice that express Lifeact-GFP and live-cell total internal reflection fluorescence imaging, this study examined the role of WASp-mediated branched actin polymerization in the GCB immunological synapse. After rapid spreading on antigen-coated planar lipid bilayers, GCBs formed microclusters of phosphorylated BCRs and proximal signaling molecules at the center and the outer edge of the contact zone. The centralized signaling clusters localized at actin-rich GCB membrane protrusions. WKO reduced the centralized micro-signaling clusters by decreasing the number and stability of F-actin foci supporting GCB membrane protrusions. The actin structures that support the spreading membrane also appeared less frequently and regularly in WKO than in WT GCBs, which led to reductions in both the level and rate of GCB spreading and antigen gathering. Our results reveal essential roles for WASp in the generation and maintenance of unique structures for GCB immunological synapses.

scholarly journals Altered Germinal-Center Metabolism in B Cells in Autoimmunity

Metabolites ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 40
Author(s):  
Ashton K. Shiraz ◽  
Eric J. Panther ◽  
Christopher M. Reilly
Keyword(s):  
B Cells ◽  
B Cell ◽  
Lupus Erythematosus ◽  
Germinal Center ◽  
Plasma Cells ◽  
Somatic Hypermutation ◽  
Cell Metabolism ◽  
Affinity Maturation ◽  
B Cell Differentiation ◽  
Contributing Factors

B lymphocytes play an important role in the pathophysiology of many autoimmune disorders by producing autoantibodies, secreting cytokines, and presenting antigens. B cells undergo extreme physiological changes as they develop and differentiate. Aberrant function in tolerogenic checkpoints and the metabolic state of B cells might be the contributing factors to the dysfunctionality of autoimmune B cells. Understanding B-cell metabolism in autoimmunity is important as it can give rise to new treatments. Recent investigations have revealed that alterations in metabolism occur in the activation of B cells. Several reports have suggested that germinal center (GC) B cells of individuals with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have altered metabolic function. GCs are unique microenvironments in which the delicate and complex process of B-cell affinity maturation occurs through somatic hypermutation (SHM) and class switching recombination (CSR) and where Bcl6 tightly regulates B-cell differentiation into memory B-cells or plasma cells. GC B cells rely heavily on glucose, fatty acids, and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) for their energy requirements. However, the complicated association between GC B cells and their metabolism is still not clearly understood. Here, we review several studies of B-cell metabolism, highlighting the significant transformations that occur in GC progression, and suggest possible approaches that may be investigated to more precisely target aberrant B-cell metabolism in SLE.

scholarly journals Uhrf1 regulates germinal center B cell expansion and affinity maturation to control viral infection

2018 ◽  
Vol 215 (5) ◽  
pp. 1437-1448 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chao Chen ◽  
Sulan Zhai ◽  
Le Zhang ◽  
Jingjing Chen ◽  
Xuehui Long ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Proliferation ◽  
B Cells ◽  
B Cell ◽  
Germinal Center ◽  
Somatic Hypermutation ◽  
Ring Finger ◽  
Affinity Maturation ◽  
Virus Clearance ◽  
Germinal Center B Cell ◽  
Pathogen Clearance

The production of high-affinity antibody is essential for pathogen clearance. Antibody affinity is increased through germinal center (GC) affinity maturation, which relies on BCR somatic hypermutation (SHM) followed by antigen-based selection. GC B cell proliferation is essentially involved in these processes; it provides enough templates for SHM and also serves as a critical mechanism of positive selection. In this study, we show that expression of epigenetic regulator ubiquitin-like with PHD and RING finger domains 1 (Uhrf1) was markedly up-regulated by c-Myc–AP4 in GC B cells, and it was required for GC response. Uhrf1 regulates cell proliferation–associated genes including cdkn1a, slfn1, and slfn2 by DNA methylation, and its deficiency inhibited the GC B cell cycle at G1-S phase. Subsequently, GC B cell SHM and affinity maturation were impaired, and Uhrf1 GC B knockout mice were unable to control chronic virus infection. Collectively, our data suggest that Uhrf1 regulates GC B cell proliferation and affinity maturation, and its expression in GC B cells is required for virus clearance.

scholarly journals Stochasticity enables BCR-independent germinal center initiation and antibody affinity maturation

2017 ◽  
Vol 215 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jared Silver ◽  
Teng Zuo ◽  
Neha Chaudhary ◽  
Rupa Kumari ◽  
Pei Tong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
B Cells ◽  
B Cell ◽  
Germinal Center ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Somatic Hypermutation ◽  
Affinity Maturation ◽  
B Cell Receptors ◽  
Antibody Affinity ◽  
V Region ◽  
Combinatorial Assembly

Two immunoglobulin (Ig) diversification mechanisms collaborate to provide protective humoral immunity. Combinatorial assembly of IgH and IgL V region exons from gene segments generates preimmune Ig repertoires, expressed as B cell receptors (BCRs). Secondary diversification occurs when Ig V regions undergo somatic hypermutation (SHM) and affinity-based selection toward antigen in activated germinal center (GC) B cells. Secondary diversification is thought to only ripen the antigen-binding affinity of Igs that already exist (i.e., cognate Igs) because of chance generation during preimmune Ig diversification. However, whether stochastic activation of noncognate B cells can generate new affinity to antigen in GCs is unclear. Using a mouse model whose knock-in BCR does not functionally engage with immunizing antigen, we found that chronic immunization induced antigen-specific serological responses with diverse SHM-mediated antibody affinity maturation pathways and divergent epitope targeting. Thus, intrinsic GC B cell flexibility allows for somatic, noncognate B cell evolution, permitting de novo antigen recognition and subsequent antibody affinity maturation without initial preimmune BCR engagement.

scholarly journals Chronic viral infection promotes early germinal center exit of B cells and impaired antibody development

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan P. Staupe ◽  
Laura A. Vella ◽  
Sasikanth Manne ◽  
Josephine R. Giles ◽  
Wenzhao Meng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
B Cells ◽  
Viral Infection ◽  
B Cell ◽  
Cell Fate ◽  
Humoral Immunity ◽  
Germinal Center ◽  
Affinity Maturation ◽  
Chronic Viral Infection ◽  
Cell Fate Decisions ◽  
The Impact

SUMMARYChronic viral infections disrupt B cell responses leading to impaired affinity maturation and delayed control of viremia. Previous studies have identified early pre-germinal center (GC) B cell attrition but the impact of chronic infections on B cell fate decisions in the GC remains poorly understood. To address this question, we used single-cell transcriptional profiling of virus-specific GC B cells to test the hypothesis that chronic viral infection disrupted GC B cell fate decisions leading to suboptimal humoral immunity. These studies revealed a critical GC differentiation checkpoint that is disrupted by chronic infection, specifically at the point of dark zone re-entry. During chronic viral infection, virus-specific GC B cells were shunted towards terminal plasma cell (PC) or memory B cell (MBC) fates at the expense of continued participation in the GC. Early GC exit was associated with decreased B cell mutational burden and antibody quality. Persisting antigen and inflammation independently drove facets of dysregulation, with a key role for inflammation in directing premature terminal GC B cell differentiation and GC exit. Thus, these studies define GC defects during chronic viral infection and identify a critical GC checkpoint that is short-circuited, preventing optimal maturation of humoral immunity.

scholarly journals The AKT isoforms 1 and 2 drive B cell fate decisions during the germinal center response

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (6) ◽  
pp. e201900506 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zilu Zhu ◽  
Ashima Shukla ◽  
Parham Ramezani-Rad ◽  
John R Apgar ◽  
Robert C Rickert
Keyword(s):  
B Cells ◽  
B Cell ◽  
Cell Fate ◽  
Germinal Center ◽  
Cytidine Deaminase ◽  
Cell Receptor ◽  
Pi3k Pathway ◽  
Affinity Maturation ◽  
Cell Fate Decisions ◽  
Antibody Class

The PI3K pathway is integral for the germinal center (GC) response. However, the contribution of protein kinase B (AKT) as a PI3K effector in GC B cells remains unknown. Here, we show that mice lacking the AKT1 and AKT2 isoforms in B cells failed to form GCs, which undermined affinity maturation and antibody production in response to immunization. Upon B-cell receptor stimulation, AKT1/2–deficient B cells showed poor survival, reduced proliferation, and impaired mitochondrial and metabolic fitness, which collectively halted GC development. By comparison, Foxo1T24A mutant, which cannot be inactivated by AKT1/2 phosphorylation and is sequestered in the nucleus, significantly enhanced antibody class switch recombination via induction of activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID) expression. By contrast, repression of FOXO1 activity by AKT1/2 promoted IRF4-driven plasma cell differentiation. Last, we show that T-cell help via CD40, but not enforced expression of Bcl2, rescued the defective GC response in AKT1/2–deficient animals by restoring proliferative expansion and energy production. Overall, our study provides mechanistic insights into the key role of AKT and downstream pathways on B cell fate decisions during the GC response.

scholarly journals Cbl and Cbl-b control the germinal center reaction by facilitating naive B cell antigen processing

2020 ◽  
Vol 217 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xin Li ◽  
Liying Gong ◽  
Alexandre P. Meli ◽  
Danielle Karo-Atar ◽  
Weili Sun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
B Cells ◽  
B Cell ◽  
Germinal Center ◽  
Antigen Processing ◽  
Cell Interaction ◽  
Affinity Maturation ◽  
Antigen Uptake ◽  
Cell Antigen ◽  
Germinal Center Reaction ◽  
Follicular Helper

Antigen uptake and presentation by naive and germinal center (GC) B cells are different, with the former expressing even low-affinity BCRs efficiently capture and present sufficient antigen to T cells, whereas the latter do so more efficiently after acquiring high-affinity BCRs. We show here that antigen uptake and processing by naive but not GC B cells depend on Cbl and Cbl-b (Cbls), which consequently control naive B and cognate T follicular helper (Tfh) cell interaction and initiation of the GC reaction. Cbls mediate CD79A and CD79B ubiquitination, which is required for BCR-mediated antigen endocytosis and postendocytic sorting to lysosomes, respectively. Blockade of CD79A or CD79B ubiquitination or Cbls ligase activity is sufficient to impede BCR-mediated antigen processing and GC development. Thus, Cbls act at the entry checkpoint of the GC reaction by promoting naive B cell antigen presentation. This regulation may facilitate recruitment of naive B cells with a low-affinity BCR into GCs to initiate the process of affinity maturation.

scholarly journals Restriction of memory B cell differentiation at the germinal center B cell positive selection stage

2020 ◽  
Vol 217 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amparo Toboso-Navasa ◽  
Arief Gunawan ◽  
Giulia Morlino ◽  
Rinako Nakagawa ◽  
Andrea Taddei ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
B Cells ◽  
Positive Selection ◽  
B Cell ◽  
Cell Fate ◽  
Germinal Center ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Zinc Finger Protein ◽  
B Cell Differentiation ◽  
Repressor Complex ◽  
Selection Stage

Memory B cells (MBCs) are key for protection from reinfection. However, it is mechanistically unclear how germinal center (GC) B cells differentiate into MBCs. MYC is transiently induced in cells fated for GC expansion and plasma cell (PC) formation, so-called positively selected GC B cells. We found that these cells coexpressed MYC and MIZ1 (MYC-interacting zinc-finger protein 1 [ZBTB17]). MYC and MIZ1 are transcriptional activators; however, they form a transcriptional repressor complex that represses MIZ1 target genes. Mice lacking MYC–MIZ1 complexes displayed impaired cell cycle entry of positively selected GC B cells and reduced GC B cell expansion and PC formation. Notably, absence of MYC–MIZ1 complexes in positively selected GC B cells led to a gene expression profile alike that of MBCs and increased MBC differentiation. Thus, at the GC positive selection stage, MYC–MIZ1 complexes are required for effective GC expansion and PC formation and to restrict MBC differentiation. We propose that MYC and MIZ1 form a module that regulates GC B cell fate.

scholarly journals Normal Induction but Attenuated Progression of Germinal Center Responses in BAFF and BAFF-R Signaling–Deficient Mice

2003 ◽  
Vol 198 (8) ◽  
pp. 1157-1169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ziaur SM. Rahman ◽  
Sambasiva P. Rao ◽  
Susan L. Kalled ◽  
Tim Manser
Keyword(s):  
B Cells ◽  
B Cell ◽  
Cell Fate ◽  
Germinal Center ◽  
Antigen Expression ◽  
Follicular Dendritic Cell ◽  
Current Data ◽  
B Cell Survival ◽  
Survival And Development ◽  
Contrast Analysis

The factors regulating germinal center (GC) B cell fate are poorly understood. Recent studies have defined a crucial role for the B cell–activating factor belonging to TNF family (BAFF; also called BLyS) in promoting primary B cell survival and development. A role for this cytokine in antigen-driven B cell responses has been suggested but current data in this regard are limited. A BAFF receptor expressed by B cells (BAFF-R/BR3) is defective in A/WySnJ mice which exhibit a phenotype similar to BAFF-deficient (BAFF−/−) animals. Here, we show that although GC responses can be efficiently induced in both A/WySnJ and BAFF−/− mice, these responses are not sustained. In BAFF−/− mice, this response is rapidly attenuated and accompanied by perturbed follicular dendritic cell development and immune complex trapping. In contrast, analysis of the A/WySnJ GC response revealed a B cell autonomous proliferative defect associated with reduced or undetectable Ki67 nuclear proliferation antigen expression by GC B cells at all stages of the response. These data demonstrate a multifaceted role for the BAFF pathway in regulating GC progression.

EBV Transformation of Tonsil Germinal Centre B Cells Carrying Functionally Inactivated IgV Gene.

Blood ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 104 (11) ◽  
pp. 3248-3248
Author(s):  
Sridhar Chaganti ◽  
Noelia Begue Pastor ◽  
Mark T. Drayson ◽  
Andy I. Bell ◽  
Alan B. Rickinson
Keyword(s):  
B Cells ◽  
B Cell ◽  
Somatic Hypermutation ◽  
B Cell Lymphoma ◽  
Affinity Maturation ◽  
Germinal Centre ◽  
Chain Gene ◽  
Lymphoid Tissues ◽  
Memory B Cell

Abstract Somatic hypermutation of immunoglobulin (Ig) gene sequences in the germinal centres of lymphoid tissues is necessary for affinity maturation of B cell responses to antigen challenge. This process generates a few clones with improved affinity that are selected into B cell memory and many clones with other non favourable Ig mutations, including some cells with functionally inactivated Ig gene that normally die by apoptosis. It is postulated that infection with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a B lymphotropic agent linked to several types of B cell lymphoma, can rescue germinal centre cells with unfavourable mutations. This creates a pool of infected cells at greater risk of developing into lymphomas. In the present work, CD38+ germinal centre B cells were separated from tonsil by negative selection for IgD and CD39. Peripheral blood naïve and memory B cell subpopulations were FACS sorted as IgD+, CD27− and IgD−, CD27+ fractions respectively. These cells were infected with EBV (B95.8 strain) in vitro and seeded at limiting dilutions onto fibroblast feeders. EBV transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) from such cultures were analysed for surface Ig phenotype. Naïve B cell transformants were consistently IgM+, IgD+. Memory B cell transformants were IgM+ in some cases but more frequently IgG+ or IgA+. Germinal centre transformants showed the same spectrum of surface Ig phenotypes as memory cell transformants but in addition we identified six germinal centre derived LCLs which were consistently surface Ig negative. Sequencing from these lines confirmed that in at least three cases EBV had rescued cells with functionally inactivated Ig heavy chain gene.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document