scholarly journals Immunoglobulin Class Switch Recombination Is Impaired in Atm-deficient Mice

2004 ◽  
Vol 200 (9) ◽  
pp. 1111-1121 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanne M. Lumsden ◽  
Thomas McCarty ◽  
Lisa K. Petiniot ◽  
Rhuna Shen ◽  
Carrolee Barlow ◽  
...  

Immunoglobulin class switch recombination (Ig CSR) involves DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) at recombining switch regions and repair of these breaks by nonhomologous end-joining. Because the protein kinase ataxia telengiectasia (AT) mutated (ATM) plays a critical role in DSB repair and AT patients show abnormalities of Ig isotype expression, we assessed the role of ATM in CSR by examining ATM-deficient mice. In response to T cell–dependent antigen (Ag), Atm−/− mice secreted substantially less Ag-specific IgA, IgG1, IgG2b, and IgG3, and less total IgE than Atm+/+ controls. To determine whether Atm−/− B cells have an intrinsic defect in their ability to undergo CSR, we analyzed in vitro responses of purified B cells. Atm−/− cells secreted substantially less IgA, IgG1, IgG2a, IgG3, and IgE than wild-type (WT) controls in response to stimulation with lipopolysaccharide, CD40 ligand, or anti-IgD plus appropriate cytokines. Molecular analysis of in vitro responses indicated that WT and Atm−/− B cells produced equivalent amounts of germline IgG1 and IgE transcripts, whereas Atm−/− B cells produced markedly reduced productive IgG1 and IgE transcripts. The reduction in isotype switching by Atm−/− B cells occurs at the level of genomic DNA recombination as measured by digestion–circularization PCR. Analysis of sequences at CSR sites indicated that there is greater microhomology at the μ–γ1 switch junctions in ATM B cells than in wild-type B cells, suggesting that ATM function affects the need or preference for sequence homology in the CSR process. These findings suggest a role of ATM in DNA DSB recognition and/or repair during CSR.

2008 ◽  
Vol 205 (7) ◽  
pp. 1567-1572 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali A. Zarrin ◽  
Peter H. Goff ◽  
Kate Senger ◽  
Frederick W. Alt

Immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) class switch recombination (CSR) replaces the initially expressed IgH Cμ exons with a set of downstream IgH constant region (CH) exons. Individual sets of CH exons are flanked upstream by long (1–10-kb) repetitive switch (S) regions, with CSR involving a deletional recombination event between the donor Sμ region and a downstream S region. Targeting CSR to specific S regions might be mediated by S region–specific factors. To test the role of endogenous S region sequences in targeting specific CSR events, we generated mutant B cells in which the endogenous 10-kb Sγ1 region was replaced with wild-type (WT) or synthetic 2-kb Sγ3 sequences or a synthetic 2-kb Sγ1 sequence. We found that both the inserted endogenous and synthetic Sγ3 sequences functioned similarly to a size-matched synthetic Sγ1 sequence to mediate substantial CSR to IgG1 in mutant B cells activated under conditions that stimulate IgG1 switching in WT B cells. We conclude that Sγ3 can function similarly to Sγ1 in mediating endogenous CSR to IgG1. The approach that we have developed will facilitate assays for IgH isotype–specific functions of other endogenous S regions.


2015 ◽  
Vol 112 (7) ◽  
pp. 2157-2162 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Björkman ◽  
Per Qvist ◽  
Likun Du ◽  
Margarita Bartish ◽  
Apostolos Zaravinos ◽  
...  

Breast cancer type 1 susceptibility protein (BRCA1) has a multitude of functions that contribute to genome integrity and tumor suppression. Its participation in the repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) during homologous recombination (HR) is well recognized, whereas its involvement in the second major DSB repair pathway, nonhomologous end-joining (NHEJ), remains controversial. Here we have studied the role of BRCA1 in the repair of DSBs in switch (S) regions during immunoglobulin class switch recombination, a physiological, deletion/recombination process that relies on the classical NHEJ machinery. A shift to the use of microhomology-based, alternative end-joining (A-EJ) and increased frequencies of intra-S region deletions as well as insertions of inverted S sequences were observed at the recombination junctions amplified from BRCA1-deficient human B cells. Furthermore, increased use of long microhomologies was found at recombination junctions derived from E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase RNF168-deficient, Fanconi anemia group J protein (FACJ, BRIP1)-deficient, or DNA endonuclease RBBP8 (CtIP)-compromised cells, whereas an increased frequency of S-region inversions was observed in breast cancer type 2 susceptibility protein (BRCA2)-deficient cells. Thus, BRCA1, together with its interaction partners, seems to play an important role in repairing DSBs generated during class switch recombination by promoting the classical NHEJ pathway. This may not only provide a general mechanism underlying BRCA1’s function in maintaining genome stability and tumor suppression but may also point to a previously unrecognized role of BRCA1 in B-cell lymphomagenesis.


2002 ◽  
Vol 195 (3) ◽  
pp. 367-373 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carol E. Schrader ◽  
Joycelyn Vardo ◽  
Janet Stavnezer

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.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yijiang Xu ◽  
Hang Zhou ◽  
Ginell Post ◽  
Hong Zan ◽  
Paolo Casali

While the biology of IgD begins to be better understood, the mechanism of expression of this phylogenetically old and highly conserved Ig class remains unknown. In B cells, IgD is expressed together with IgM as transmembrane receptor for antigen through alternative splicing of long primary VHDJH-Cμ-s-m-Cδ-s-m RNA, which also underpins the secreted form of IgD. IgD is also expressed through class switch DNA recombination (CSR), as initiated by AID-mediated double-strand DNA breaks (DSBs) in Sμ and σδ and resolution of such DSBs by a yet unknown alternative endjoining (A-EJ) mechanism. This synapses Sμ with σδ region DSB resected ends leading to insertion of extensive S-S junction microhomologies, unlike the Ku70/Ku86-dependent NHEJ which resolves DSB blunt ends in CSR to IgG, IgA and IgE with little or no microhomologies. We previously demonstrated a novel role of DNA annealing homologous recombination Rad52 protein in 'short-range' microhomology-mediated synapsis of intra-Sδ region DSBs. This led us to hypothesize that Rad52 is also involved in the short-range microhomology-mediated A-EJ recombination of Sμ with σδ. We found that induction of IgD CSR by T-dependent or T-independent stimuli downregulated Zfp318 (the suppressor of Cδ-s-m transcription termination), promoted Rad52 phosphorylation, recruitment of Rad52 to Sμ and σδ leading to Sμ-σδ recombination with extensive microhomologies, VHDJH-Cδs transcription and sustained IgD secretion. Rad52 ablation in mouse Rad52-/- B cells aborted IgD CSR in vitro and in vivo and dampened the specific IgD antibody response to OVA. Further, Rad52 knockdown in human B cells virtually abrogated IgD CSR. Finally, Rad52 phosphorylation was associated with high levels IgD CSR and anti-nuclear IgD autoantibodies in lupus-prone mice and lupus patients. Thus, Rad52 mediates CSR to IgD by synapsing Sμ-σδ resected DSB ends through microhomology-mediated A-EJ and in concert with Zfp318 modulation. This is a previously unrecognized, critical and dedicated role of Rad52 in mammalian DNA repair.


2004 ◽  
Vol 200 (3) ◽  
pp. 321-330 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carol E. Schrader ◽  
Joycelyn Vardo ◽  
Erin Linehan ◽  
Michael Z. Twarog ◽  
Laura J. Niedernhofer ◽  
...  

The structure-specific endonuclease ERCC1-XPF is an essential component of the nucleotide excision DNA repair pathway. ERCC1-XPF nicks double-stranded DNA immediately adjacent to 3′ single-strand regions. Substrates include DNA bubbles and flaps. Furthermore, ERCC1 interacts with Msh2, a mismatch repair (MMR) protein involved in class switch recombination (CSR). Therefore, ERCC1-XPF has abilities that might be useful for antibody CSR. We tested whether ERCC1 is involved in CSR and found that Ercc1−/− splenic B cells show moderately reduced CSR in vitro, demonstrating that ERCC1-XPF participates in, but is not required for, CSR. To investigate the role of ERCC1 in CSR, the nucleotide sequences of switch (S) regions were determined. The mutation frequency in germline Sμ segments and recombined Sμ-Sγ3 segments cloned from Ercc1−/− splenic B cells induced to switch in culture was identical to that of wild-type (WT) littermates. However, Ercc1−/− cells show increased targeting of the mutations to G:C bp in RGYW/WRCY hotspots and mutations occur at sites more distant from the S–S junctions compared with WT mice. The results indicate that ERCC1 is not epistatic with MMR and suggest that ERCC1 might be involved in processing or repair of DNA lesions in S regions during CSR.


2004 ◽  
Vol 199 (5) ◽  
pp. 617-627 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy L. Kenter ◽  
Robert Wuerffel ◽  
Carmen Dominguez ◽  
Ananth Shanmugam ◽  
Hongmei Zhang

Ig class switch recombination (CSR) requires expression of activation-induced deaminase (AID) and production of germline transcripts to target S regions for recombination. However, the mechanism of CSR remains unclear. Here we show that an extrachromosomal S plasmid assay is AID dependent and that a single consensus repeat is both necessary and sufficient for isotype-specific CSR. Transfected switch substrates specific for μ→γ3 and μ→γ1 are stimulated to switch with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) alone or LPS and interleukin-4, respectively. An Sγ3/Sγ1 substrate containing only three Sγ3-associated nucleotides reconstituted LPS responsiveness and permitted mapping of a functional recombination motif specific for μ→γ3 CSR. This functional recombination motif colocalized with a binding site for NF-κB p50, and p50 binding to this site was previously established. We show a p50 requirement for plasmid-based μ→γ3 CSR using p50-deficient B cells. Switch junctions from p50-deficient B cells showed decreased lengths of microhomology between Sμ and Sγ3 relative to wild-type cells, indicating a function for p50 in the mechanics of CSR. We note a striking parallel between the affects of p50 and Msh2 deficiency on Sμ/Sγ3 junctions. The data suggest that p50 may be the isotype-specific factor in μ→γ3 CSR and epistatic with Msh2.


2008 ◽  
Vol 82 (13) ◽  
pp. 6610-6617 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen A. Chachu ◽  
David W. Strong ◽  
Anna D. LoBue ◽  
Christiane E. Wobus ◽  
Ralph S. Baric ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Human noroviruses cause more than 90% of epidemic nonbacterial gastroenteritis. However, the role of B cells and antibody in the immune response to noroviruses is unclear. Previous studies have demonstrated that human norovirus specific antibody levels increase upon infection, but they may not be protective against infection. In this report, we used murine norovirus (MNV), an enteric norovirus, as a model to determine the importance of norovirus specific B cells and immune antibody in clearance of norovirus infection. We show here that mice genetically deficient in B cells failed to clear primary MNV infection as effectively as wild-type mice. In addition, adoptively transferred immune splenocytes derived from B-cell-deficient mice or antibody production-deficient mice were unable to efficiently clear persistent MNV infection in RAG1−/− mice. Further, adoptive transfer of either polyclonal anti-MNV serum or neutralizing anti-MNV monoclonal antibodies was sufficient to reduce the level of MNV infection both systemically and in the intestine. Together, these data demonstrate that antibody plays an important role in the clearance of MNV and that immunoglobulin G anti-norovirus antibody can play an important role in clearing mucosal infection.


Blood ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 106 (11) ◽  
pp. 2987-2987
Author(s):  
Hong Xiang ◽  
Linda M. Boxer

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.


Blood ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 108 (11) ◽  
pp. 3898-3898
Author(s):  
Andrea Cerutti ◽  
Bing He ◽  
April Chiu ◽  
Meimei Shan ◽  
Paul Santini ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction. Class switching from IgM to IgG and IgA is central to immunity against microbes and usually occurs in draining lymph nodes and requires activation of B cells by CD4+ T cells expressing CD40 ligand. Growing evidence indicates that B cells can mount frontline IgG and IgA responses at mucosal sites of entry through an alternative CD40-independent pathway involving B cell-activating factor of the TNF family (BAFF, also known as BLyS) and a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL). These innate factors are usually produced by dendritic cells and stimulate B cells through at least three distinct receptors. Together with dendritic cells, epithelial cells have a key position at the host-environment interface. Therefore, we asked whether epithelial cells play a role in frontline antibody production. Methods. Tonsillar tissue sections from healthy donors were analyzed for expression of activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID) by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. A simplified in vitro model reproducing the geometry of mucosal surfaces was used to evaluate the role of epithelial cells in class switching. Briefly, primary epithelial cells and B cells were cultured in the upper and lower chambers, respectively, of a trans-well system. Monocyte-derived dendritic cells were positioned on a filter separating the two chambers. Various microbial product analogues were used to mimic infection. RNA interference was performed to knockdown BAFF in epithelial cells. AID expression, CSR, antibody production and signaling were evaluated in B cells as reported (Litinsky et al., Nat. Immunol.2002, 3:822–829; Qiao et al., Nat. Immunol.2006, 7:302–310). Results. We found that the upper respiratory mucosa of healthy subjects comprised intraepithelial pockets filled with B cells expressing AID, a DNA-editing enzyme associated with ongoing class switch DNA recombination (CSR). Epithelial cells released innate class switch-inducing factors, including BAFF, after sensing microbial products through TLRs, thereby inducing AID expression, CSR, and ultimately IgG and IgA production in neighboring B cells. Epithelial cell-induced antibodies comprised polyreactive IgG and IgA capable of recognizing multiple microbial determinants. Intraepithelial class switching was enhanced by thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), an epithelial IL-7-like cytokine that augments the innate B cell-licensing functions of dendritic cells, and restrained by secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI), an epithelial alarm antiprotease that suppresses AID expression in activated B cells. Conclusions. The present findings indicate that epithelial cells function as non-immune sentinels capable to autonomously orchestrate compartmentalized IgG and IgA responses at the interface between host and environment. This implies that mucosal vaccines should activate both epithelial and immune cells to elicit optimal antibody production.


2000 ◽  
Vol 68 (5) ◽  
pp. 2431-2434 ◽  
Author(s):  
Inger Gjertsson ◽  
Olof Hörnquist Hultgren ◽  
Martin Stenson ◽  
Rikard Holmdahl ◽  
Andrzej Tarkowski

ABSTRACT To investigate the role of B cells in experimental, superantigen-mediated Staphylococcus aureus arthritis and sepsis, we used gene-targeted B-cell-deficient mice. The mice were inoculated intravenously with a toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 (TSST-1)-producing S. aureus strain. The B-cell-deficient and thus agamma-globulinemic mice showed striking similarities to the wild-type control animals with respect to the development of arthritis, the mortality rate, and the rate of bacterial clearance. Surprisingly, we found that the levels of gamma interferon in serum were significantly lower (P < 0.0001) in B-cell-deficient mice than in the controls, possibly due to impaired superantigen presentation and a diminished expression of costimulatory molecules. In contrast, the levels of interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-6, and IL-10 in serum were equal in both groups. Our findings demonstrate that neither mature B cells nor their products significantly contribute to the course ofS. aureus-induced septic arthritis.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document