Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase P110δ-Signaling Is Critical for Microbiota-Activated IL-10 Production by B Cells that Regulate Intestinal Inflammation

The phosphoinositide 3-kinase catalytic subunit p110δ (PI3Kδ) gene maps to a human inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) susceptibility locus, and genetic deletion of PI3Kδ signaling causes spontaneous colitis in mice. However, little is known regarding the role of PI3Kδ on IL-10-producing B cells that help regulate mucosal inflammation in IBD. We investigated the role of PI3Kδ signaling in B cell production of IL-10, following stimulation by resident bacteria and B cell regulatory function against colitis. In vitro, B cells from PI3KδD910A/D910A mice or wild-type B cells treated with PI3K specific inhibitors secreted significantly less IL-10 with greater IL-12p40 following bacterial stimulation. These B cells failed to suppress inflammatory cytokines by co-cultured microbiota-activated macrophages or CD4+ T cells. In vivo, co-transferred wild-type B cells ameliorated T cell-mediated colitis, while PI3KδD910A/D910A B cells did not confer protection from mucosal inflammation. These results indicate that PI3Kδ-signaling mediates regulatory B cell immune differentiation when stimulated with resident microbiota or their components, and is critical for induction and regulatory function of IL-10-producing B cells in intestinal homeostasis and inflammation.

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RhoH-Deficient Mice Show Altered B Cell Populations In Vivo.

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v110.11.2307.2307 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 110 (11) ◽

pp. 2307-2307

Author(s):

Abel Sanchez-Aguilera ◽

Jose Cancelas ◽

David A. Williams

Keyword(s):

Bone Marrow ◽

T Cell ◽

B Cells ◽

B Cell ◽

Marginal Zone ◽

Cell Receptor ◽

Wild Type ◽

Marginal Zone B Cells

Abstract RhoH is a GTPase-deficient, hematopoietic-specific member of the family of Rho GTPases (Li et al, 2002). RhoH has been described as regulating proliferation and engraftment of hematopoietic progenitor cells (Gu et al, 2005) and integrin-mediated adhesion in T cells (Cherry et al, 2004). Additionally, RhoH plays a critical role in T-cell development and T-cell receptor signaling (Gu et al, 2006; Dorn et al, 2007). However, the potential role of RhoH in the differentiation and biological functions of B cells are unknown. To answer these questions, we analyzed the B-cell phenotype of RhoH−/− mice and the in vitro properties of RhoH-deficient splenic B cells compared to their wild-type counterparts. RhoH−/− mice showed increased B-cell numbers in the bone marrow, mainly due to an increase in the number of pro-B, pre-B and immature B cells. In the spleen, lymph nodes and peripheral blood, RhoH−/− mice showed a significant decrease in the number of follicular (B-2) cells (B220+ CD93– IgDhigh CD21low). The number of splenic marginal zone B cells (B220+ CD93– IgDlow CD21high), plasma cells (CD93– CD38+ CD138+) in bone marrow and spleen, and B-1 cells (IgM+ CD5+) in peritoneal cavity were not significantly different from those in wild-type animals. These alterations have functional significance, since the serum concentrations of IgM and IgG1 were significantly lower in RhoH−/− mice. However, splenic B cells isolated from RhoH−/− mice did not show any significant differences in their in vitro activation by anti-IgM, CD40 ligation or IL-4 stimulation, nor did they differ in their proliferative response to lipopolysaccharide. In vitro migration of RhoH-deficient B cells in response to CXCL12 or CXCL13 was similar to that of wild-type B cells. Given the important role of RhoH in signal transduction downstream the T cell receptor, we investigated the possible role of RhoH in B cell receptor signaling. Although total splenic B cells from RhoH−/− mice showed markedly increased phosphorylation of SYK and ERK after anti-IgM stimulation compared to wild-type B cells, sorted populations of splenic B-2 and marginal zone B cells from RhoH−/− and wild-type animals did not differ in the activation of these kinases, suggesting that the observed difference can be attributed to the different cellular composition of the B cell compartment (i.e. B-2 vs marginal zone B cells) in RhoH−/− mice. These data imply that the phenotype observed in RhoH−/− mice may not reflect an intrinsic defect in B cells but may be attributed to crosstalk between B cells and other hematopoietic cell populations. Composition of B cell subsets in wild-type and RhoH−/− mice (total cell number ×106, ± standard deviation, N=9) Bone marrow Spleen (*) indicates p<0.05; (**), p<0.01; (***), p<0.005 RhoH+/+ RhoH−/− RhoH+/+ RhoH−/− total B cells 7.8±1.8 11.0±2.4 (**) total B cells 31.7±10.1 25.4±8.8 pro-B 0.12±0.03 0.15±0.04 (*) transitional 8.7±1.2 8.6±2.8 pre-B 2.6±0.6 3.8±0.8 (***) B-2 11.6±4.1 7.6±2.5 (*) immature 1.5±0.4 2.1±0.5 (*) marginal 3.2±1.1 3.9±1.6 mature 1.4±0.7 1.7±0.9

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Role for Mismatch Repair Proteins Msh2, Mlh1, and Pms2 in Immunoglobulin Class Switching Shown by Sequence Analysis of Recombination Junctions

Journal of Experimental Medicine ◽

10.1084/jem.20011877 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 195 (3) ◽

pp. 367-373 ◽

Cited By ~ 102

Author(s):

Carol E. Schrader ◽

Joycelyn Vardo ◽

Janet Stavnezer

Keyword(s):

B Cells ◽

Mismatch Repair ◽

Type B ◽

Wild Type ◽

Class Switching ◽

Class Switch ◽

Mmr Proteins

B cells from mice deficient in mismatch repair (MMR) proteins show decreased ability to undergo class switch recombination in vitro and in vivo. The deficit is not accompanied by any reduction in cell viability or alterations in the cell cycle in B cells cultured in vitro. To assess the role of MMR in switching we examined the nucleotide sequences of Sμ-Sγ3 recombination junctions in splenic B cells induced in culture to switch to IgG3. The data demonstrate clear differences in the sequences of switch junctions in wild-type B cells in comparison with Msh2-, Mlh1-, and Pms2-deficient B cells. Sequences of switch junctions from Msh2-deficient cells showed decreased lengths of microhomology between Sμ and Sγ3 relative to junctions from wild-type cells and an increase in insertions, i.e., nucleotides which do not appear to be derived from either the Sμ or Sγ3 parental sequence. By contrast, 23% of junctions from Mlh1- and Pms2-deficient cells occurred at unusually long stretches of microhomology. The data indicate that MMR proteins are directly involved in class switching and that the role of Msh2 differs from that of Mlh1 and Pms2.

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TLR7 modulating B-cell immune responses in the spleen of C57BL/6 mice infected with Schistosoma japonicum

PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases ◽

10.1371/journal.pntd.0009943 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 15 (11) ◽

pp. e0009943

Author(s):

Haixia Wei ◽

Hongyan Xie ◽

Jiale Qu ◽

Anqi Xie ◽

Shihao Xie ◽

...

Keyword(s):

B Cells ◽

B Cell ◽

Gene Knockout ◽

Innate Immune ◽

Wild Type ◽

Cell Responses ◽

Splenic Cells ◽

And Function ◽

Egg Antigen

B cells played an important role in Schistosoma infection-induced diseases. TLR7 is an intracellular member of the innate immune receptor. The role of TLR7 on B cells mediated immune response is still unclear. Here, C57BL/6 mice were percutaneously infected by S. japonicum for 5–6 weeks. The percentages and numbers of B cells increased in the infected mice (p < 0.05), and many activation and function associated molecules were also changed on B cells. More splenic cells of the infected mice expressed TLR7, and B cells were served as the main cell population. Moreover, a lower level of soluble egg antigen (SEA) specific antibody and less activation associated molecules were found on the surface of splenic B cells from S. japonicum infected TLR7 gene knockout (TLR7 KO) mice compared to infected wild type (WT) mice (p < 0.05). Additionally, SEA showed a little higher ability in inducing the activation of B cells from naive WT mice than TLR7 KO mice (p < 0.05). Finally, the effects of TLR7 on B cells are dependent on the activation of NF-κB p65. Altogether, TLR7 was found modulating the splenic B cell responses in S. japonicum infected C57BL/6 mice.

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CLL-Derived Exosomes Function As Trojan Horses That Induce SMAD6-Dependent Apoptosis of Normal B-Cells

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2019-129873 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 134 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 1734-1734

Author(s):

Orit Uziel ◽

Zinab Sarsur- Amer ◽

Einat Beery ◽

Pia Raanani ◽

Uri Rozovski

Keyword(s):

B Cells ◽

Time Dependent ◽

Dependent Manner ◽

Environmental Resources ◽

Type B ◽

Wild Type ◽

Cell Competition ◽

Western Immunoblotting ◽

Competition Theory

Studies from recent years unraveled the role of monocytes and T-cells in the pathogenesis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). The role of other immune cells in the pathobiology of CLL is less known. Specifically, whether B-cells, the normal counterpart of CLL cells play a role in CLL is unknown. Nevertheless, since both CLL cells and wild type B-cells reside in lymphatic organs and travel in blood, they either share or compete over common environmental resources. According to the cell competition theory, a sensing mechanism measures the relative fitness of a cell and ensures the elimination of cells deemed to be less fit then their neighbors. Since constitutive activation of intracellular pathways protect CLL cells from apoptosis, the cell competition theory predicts that compared with normal B-cells these cells are sensed as "super fit" and B-cells, the less fit counterparts, are eliminated. Yet, what delivers this massage across a population of cells is unknown. Exosomes are nanosized particles that are secreted by various types of cells. Exosomes carry a cargo of proteins and different types of RNA. They travel in body fluids and are taken up by cells in their vicinity. Since cancer cells including CLL cells secrete exosomes, we have formulated our hypothesis, namely, that exosomes derived from CLL cells are the vehicles that carry a death massage to wild type B-cells. To test this hypothesis, we isolated CLL cells from 3 previously untreated patients with CLL. We then grew these cells in exosome free media for 72 hours and harvested the exosomes by ultracentrifugation. We used NanoSight tracking analysis, Western immunoblotting for CD63, a common exosomal marker, and electron microscopy imaging studies to ensure that our pellet include the typical 100nm exosomal particles. Subsequently, we subjected normal B-cells derived from healthy volunteers to CLL derived exosomes stained by FM-143 dye. Using flow cytometry we found that exosomes are taken up by normal B-cells in a dose- and time- dependent manner. Double staining of the recipient B-cells to Annexin/PI revealed that exosomes induce apoptosis of these cells in a dose- and time- dependent manner. We then used RNA-seq to trace the changes in the molecular makeup of B-cells after exosomal uptake?? they took up exosomes. We found 24 transcripts that were differentially expressed (11 that were upregulated and 13 that were downregulated). We then verified the array results by quantitative real-time PCR for four of these genes. Among the top transcripts that were upregulated in exosome-positive B-cells is SMAD6. Because the upregulation of the SMAD family members including SMAD6 is associated with the induction of apoptosis in various malignant and non-malignant cells we wondered whether the upregulation of SMAD6 also induces apoptosis in normal B-cells. To test this, we transfected normal B-cells with SMAD6 containing vector and verified by RT-PCR that level of SMAD6 transcript were upregulated and by Western immunoblotting that levels of SMAD6 protein are upregulated as well. As expected, the rate of apoptosis was higher, and the rates of viable cells and proliferating cells were significantly lower in SMAD6-transfected B-cells. Taken together, we show here that CLL cells secrete exosomes that function as "Trojan horses". Once they are taken up by normal B-cells they induce SMAD6-dependent apoptosis. In this way the neoplastic cells may actively eliminate their competitors and take over the common environmental resources. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

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Interleukin-13 in Combination With CD40 Ligand Potently Inhibits Apoptosis in Human B Lymphocytes: Upregulation of Bcl-xL and Mcl-1

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v89.12.4415 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 89 (12) ◽

pp. 4415-4424 ◽

Cited By ~ 54

Author(s):

Jon Lømo ◽

Heidi Kiil Blomhoff ◽

Sten Eirik Jacobsen ◽

Stanislaw Krajewski ◽

John C. Reed ◽

...

Keyword(s):

B Cells ◽

B Cell ◽

B Lymphocytes ◽

Peripheral Blood ◽

Cell Apoptosis ◽

Cell Types ◽

Cd40 Ligand ◽

Interleukin 13

Abstract Interleukin-13 (IL-13) is a novel T-cell–derived cytokine with IL-4–like effects on many cell types. In human B lymphocytes, IL-13 induces activation, stimulates proliferation in combination with anti-IgM or anti-CD40 antibodies, and directs Ig isotype switching towards IgE and IgG4 isotypes. We show here that IL-13 also regulates human B-cell apoptosis. IL-13 reduced spontaneous apoptosis of peripheral blood B cells in vitro, as shown by measurement of DNA fragmentation using the TUNEL and Nicoletti assays. The inhibition of cell death by IL-13 alone was significant but modest, but was potently enhanced in combination with CD40 ligand (CD40L), a survival stimulus for B cells by itself. Interestingly, IL-13 increased the expression of CD40 on peripheral blood B cells, providing a possible mechanism for the observed synergy. IL-13 alone was a less potent inhibitor of apoptosis than IL-4. Moreover, there was no additive effect of combining IL-4 and IL-13 at supraoptimal concentrations, which is consistent with the notion that the IL-4 and IL-13 binding sites share a common signaling subunit. The combination of IL-13 with CD40L augmented the expression of the Bcl-2 homologues Bcl-xL and Mcl-1, suggesting this as a possible intracellular mechanism of induced survival. By contrast, levels of Bcl-2, and two other Bcl-2 family members, Bax and Bak, remained unaltered. Given the importance of the CD40-CD40L interaction in B-cell responses, these results suggest a significant role of IL-13 in the regulation of B-cell apoptosis.

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In vitro associative conditioning of Hermissenda: cumulative depolarization of type B photoreceptors and short-term associative behavioral changes

Journal of Neurophysiology ◽

10.1152/jn.1987.57.6.1639 ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 57 (6) ◽

pp. 1639-1668 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

J. Farley ◽

D. L. Alkon

Keyword(s):

Nervous System ◽

B Cells ◽

Hair Cell ◽

B Cell ◽

Behavioral Changes ◽

Type B ◽

Short Term ◽

Phototactic Behavior ◽

Optic Ganglion

Cumulative depolarization of Hermissenda type B photoreceptors, a short-term neural correlate of associative learning, was produced by simulating associative training in the isolated nervous system (in vitro conditioning). This simulation entailed stimulation and recording from three classes of neurons normally affected by the associative training procedure: a type B photoreceptor, the silent/excitatory (S/E) optic ganglion cell, and a statocyst caudal hair cell. Exposure of the isolated nervous system to five simultaneous pairings of light and current-induced impulse activity of the caudal hair cell resulted in an average 10-mV depolarization of type B cells. Cumulative depolarization was found to be pairing specific, to occur with a minimal number of training trials, and was paralleled by short-term pairing-specific changes in phototactic behavior for the intact animal. Two important determinants of cumulative depolarization were found to be the magnitude and duration of the long-lasting depolarization (LLD) response of type B cells to light, and a pairing-specific synaptic facilitation of the LLD response. The synaptic facilitation arose from two distinct sources: increased excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) feedback on B cells following light and caudal hair cell stimulation pairings, and disinhibition of the type B photoreceptor following pairings. The S/E optic ganglion cell was found to be a potent regulator of B cell EPSPs. Cumulative depolarization was substantially reduced when the S/E cell was hyperpolarized throughout the course of pairings. Conversely, pairings of light with depolarizing current stimulation of the S/E cell were sufficient to produce cumulative depolarization of B cells. Precluding disinhibition of the B cell from the caudal hair cell was also found to attenuate cumulative depolarization. Additional constraints, inherent to the neural organization of the visual and statocyst neural systems were found to further limit the degree of cumulative depolarization. Among the most important of these were the interpairing interval and light intensity. Exposure of intact animals of five pairings of light and rotation resulted in short-term suppression of phototactic behavior. Like the cumulative depolarization of B cells with in vitro conditioning procedures, these changes were relatively pairing specific and persisted for comparable durations of time. Cumulative depolarization of B cells appears to be an important initial step in the production of long-term associative neural and behavioral changes in Hermissenda.

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Diacylglycerol kinase ζ promotes actin cytoskeleton remodeling and mechanical forces at the B cell immune synapse

Science Signaling ◽

10.1126/scisignal.aaw8214 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (627) ◽

pp. eaaw8214 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Sara V. Merino-Cortés ◽

Sofia R. Gardeta ◽

Sara Roman-Garcia ◽

Ana Martínez-Riaño ◽

Judith Pineau ◽

...

Keyword(s):

B Cells ◽

B Cell ◽

Force Generation ◽

Lymphocyte Function ◽

Dependent Manner ◽

Type B ◽

Wild Type ◽

Microtubule Organizing Center ◽

Antigen Uptake ◽

Immune Synapse

Diacylglycerol kinases (DGKs) limit antigen receptor signaling in immune cells by consuming the second messenger diacylglycerol (DAG) to generate phosphatidic acid (PA). Here, we showed that DGKζ promotes lymphocyte function–associated antigen 1 (LFA-1)–mediated adhesion and F-actin generation at the immune synapse of B cells with antigen-presenting cells (APCs), mostly in a PA-dependent manner. Measurement of single-cell mechanical force generation indicated that DGKζ-deficient B cells exerted lower forces at the immune synapse than did wild-type B cells. Nonmuscle myosin activation and translocation of the microtubule-organizing center (MTOC) to the immune synapse were also impaired in DGKζ-deficient B cells. These functional defects correlated with the decreased ability of B cells to present antigen and activate T cells in vitro. The in vivo germinal center response of DGKζ-deficient B cells was also reduced compared with that of wild-type B cells, indicating that loss of DGKζ in B cells impaired T cell help. Together, our data suggest that DGKζ shapes B cell responses by regulating actin remodeling, force generation, and antigen uptake–related events at the immune synapse. Hence, an appropriate balance in the amounts of DAG and PA is required for optimal B cell function.

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Advantages and Limitations of Integrated Flagellin Adjuvants for HIV-Based Nanoparticle B-Cell Vaccines

Pharmaceutics ◽

10.3390/pharmaceutics11050204 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (5) ◽

pp. 204 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Cornelia Barnowski ◽

Nicole Kadzioch ◽

Dominik Damm ◽

Huimin Yan ◽

Vladimir Temchura

Keyword(s):

B Cells ◽

B Cell ◽

Wild Type ◽

Adjuvant Activity ◽

Potent Inducer ◽

Virus Like Particle ◽

Structural Identity ◽

Toll Like Receptor 5

The great advantage of virus-like particle (VLP) nano-vaccines is their structural identity to wild-type viruses, ensuring that antigen-specific B-cells encounter viral proteins in their natural conformation. “Wild-type” viral nanoparticles can be further genetically or biochemically functionalized with biomolecules (antigens and adjuvants). Flagellin is a potent inducer of innate immunity and it has demonstrated adjuvant effectiveness due to its affinity for toll-like receptor 5 (TLR5). In contrast to most TLR ligands, flagellin is a protein and can induce an immune response against itself. To avoid side-effects, we incorporated a less inflammatory and less immunogenic form of flagellin as an adjuvant into HIV-based nanoparticle B-cell-targeting vaccines that display either the HIV-1 envelope protein (Env) or a model antigen, hen egg lysozyme (HEL). While flagellin significantly enhanced HEL-specific IgG responses, anti-Env antibody responses were suppressed. We demonstrated that flagellin did not activate B-cells directly in vitro, but might compete for CD4+ T-cell help in vivo. Therefore, we hypothesize that in the context of VLP-based B-cell nano-vaccines, flagellin serves as an antigen itself and may outcompete a less immunogenic antigen with its antibody response. In contrast, in combination with a strong immunogen, the adjuvant activity of flagellin may dominate over its immunogenicity.

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B-1a B Cells that Link the Innate and Adaptive Immune Responses Are Lacking in the Absence of the Spleen

Journal of Experimental Medicine ◽

10.1084/jem.20011140 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 195 (6) ◽

pp. 771-780 ◽

Cited By ~ 185

Author(s):

Hedda Wardemann ◽

Thomas Boehm ◽

Neil Dear ◽

Rita Carsetti

Keyword(s):

B Cells ◽

Immune Responses ◽

B Cell ◽

Innate Immune ◽

Streptococcal Infections ◽

Wild Type ◽

Adaptive Immune ◽

Encapsulated Bacteria ◽

Increased Susceptibility

Splenectomized individuals are prone to overwhelming infections with encapsulated bacteria and splenectomy of mice increases susceptibility to streptococcal infections, yet the exact mechanism by which the spleen protects against such infections is unknown. Using congenitally asplenic mice as a model, we show that the spleen is essential for the generation of B-1a cells, a B cell population that cooperates with the innate immune system to control early bacterial and viral growth. Splenectomy of wild-type mice further demonstrated that the spleen is also important for the survival of B-1a cells. Transfer experiments demonstrate that lack of these cells, as opposed to the absence of the spleen per se, is associated with an inability to mount a rapid immune response against streptococcal polysaccharides. Thus, absence of the spleen and the associated increased susceptibility to streptococcal infections is correlated with lack of B-1a B cells. These findings reveal a hitherto unknown role of the spleen in generating and maintaining the B-1a B cell pool.

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The Role of the cAMP-Response Element in the Bcl-2 Promoter in the Regulation of Endogenous Bcl-2 Expression and Apoptosis in Murine B Cells.

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v106.11.2987.2987 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 106 (11) ◽

pp. 2987-2987

Author(s):

Hong Xiang ◽

Linda M. Boxer

Keyword(s):

B Cells ◽

Wild Type ◽

Camp Response Element ◽

Response Element ◽

Calcium Dependent ◽

Flow Cytometric ◽

Immature B Cells

Abstract We have previously shown in B cell lines that the cAMP-response element (CRE) is a major positive regulatory site in the bcl-2 promoter. This element is not only essential for bcl-2 deregulation in t(14;18) cells, but it is also responsible for the positive regulation of bcl-2 expression during the activation of mature B cells and the rescue of immature B cells from calcium-dependent apoptosis in vitro. However, the role of the CRE in the regulation of endogenous bcl-2 expression in vivo has not been characterized. We used gene targeting to generate knock-in mice in which a mutant CRE site was introduced into the bcl-2 promoter region. The mutant CRE reduced the expression of bcl-2 mRNA in several tissues, including thymus, kidney, lung, liver, brain and heart. The levels of bcl-2 mRNA and protein were also significantly lower in splenic B cells from the knock-in mice. Consistent with these results, the activation of B cells from the knock-in mice by anti-CD 40, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or anti-IgM was reduced as compared to B cells from wild-type littermates. B cells with the mutant CRE were more susceptible to the induction of apoptosis with several different agents consistent with the decreased expression of bcl-2. Preliminary flow cytometric studies suggest that the number of B cells is decreased in the knock-in mice at 8 weeks of age. Quantitative chromatin immunoprecipitation assays revealed essentially no binding of CREB or ATF-2 and decreased binding of CBP and c-Rel to the mutant CRE site in the bcl-2 promoter. Our previous studies have shown that the CRE site in the bcl-2 promoter is linked to the mediation of signal transduction pathways in B cells, so we investigated the effect of forskolin, a cAMP-elevating agent. We found that treatment of the B cells from the knock-in mice with forskolin led to significantly more cell death than observed with wild-type B cells. Taken together, these findings indicate that the CRE site in the bcl-2 promoter has a functional role in the regulation of endogenous bcl-2 expression and plays an important role in the regulation of apoptosis in B cells.

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