Biomedical subjects

V M Lentz

Publications and source records attributed to V M Lentz.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2001

Competition for BLyS-mediated signaling through Bcmd/BR3 regulates peripheral B lymphocyte numbers.

Striking cell losses occur during late B lymphocyte maturation, reflecting BcR-mediated selection coupled with requisites for viability promoting signals. How selection and survival cues are integrated remains unclear, but a key role for B lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS(TM); trademark of Human Genome Sciences, Inc.) is suggested by its marked effects on B cell numbers and autoantibody formation as well as the B lineage-specific expression of BLyS receptors. Our analyses of the B cell-deficient A/WySnJ mouse have established Bcmd as a gene controlling follicular B cell life span, and recent reports show Bcmd encodes a novel BLyS receptor. Here we show that A/WySnJ B cells are unresponsive to BLyS, affording interrogation of how Bcmd influences B cell homeostasis. Mixed marrow chimeras indicate A/WySnJ peripheral B cells compete poorly for peripheral survival. Moreover, in vivo BrdU labeling shows that (A/WySnJ x BALB/c)F(1) B cells have an intermediate but uniform life span, indicating viability requires continuous signaling via this pathway. Together, these findings establish the BLyS/Bcmd pathway as a dominant mediator of B cell survival, suggesting competition for BLyS/Bcmd signals regulates follicular B cell numbers.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Cutting edge: germinal centers can be induced in the absence of T cells.

Immunization of mice containing mutations that inactivate the TCR Cbeta and Cdelta genes with the T cell-independent (TI) type 2 Ag (4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenyl)acetyl-Ficoll induces clusters of peanut agglutinin-binding B cells in the spleen. These clusters are histologically indistinguishable from germinal centers (GCs) typical of T cell-dependent immune responses. They are located in follicles, and contain mature follicular dendritic cells, immune complex deposits, and B cells that display the phenotypic qualities of conventional GC B cells. However, the kinetics of this TI GC response differ from T cell-dependent GC responses in being rapidly induced and of short duration. Moreover, the Ab V genes expressed in TI GCs have not undergone somatic hypermutation. Therefore, T cells may be required for B cell differentiation processes associated with the intermediate and latter stages of the GC reaction, but they are dispensable for the induction and initial development of this response.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

The T cell-dependent B cell immune response and germinal center reaction are intact in A-myb-deficient mice.

Expression of the protooncogene A-myb is restricted to the developing CNS, adult testes, breasts in late pregnancy, and germinal centers of secondary B cell follicles. The functional relevance of A-myb expression at three of these sites has been demonstrated previously via the generation and analysis of A-myb-deficient mice, which display behavioral abnormalities, male sterility, and perturbed breast development during pregnancy. In contrast, here we show that the germinal center response driven by T cell-dependent Ag immunization and the associated processes of Ab V gene somatic hypermutation, affinity maturation, and heavy chain class switching are overtly normal in A-myb-deficient mice. Nonetheless, these mice display mild splenic white pulp hypoplasia and blunted primary serum Ab responses, suggesting that although A-myb is not directly involved in the regulation of the memory B cell response, it may play a role in enhancing peripheral B cell survival or proliferative capacity.

Animals↗

PubMed2000

Self-limiting systemic autoimmune disease during reconstitution of T cell-deficient mice with syngeneic T cells: support for a multifaceted role of T cells in the maintenance of peripheral B cell tolerance.

The T cell compartment can be partially reconstituted in mice with targeted inactivation of the TCR C(beta) and C(delta) genes by injection of mature, syngeneic T cells. Surprisingly, during this reconstitution high titers of IgG anti-nuclear antibodies and symptoms of systemic autoimmune disease develop. However, this autoimmune response is transient and aged, reconstituted mice show no overt signs of disease. The autoantibody response appears to be derived from a pre-existing population of host self-reactive B cells and requires CD40 ligand-mediated co-stimulation from donor cells. Diminution of this response is coincident with a vigorous germinal center reaction and the disappearance of a subpopulation of activated B cells that expresses elevated levels of Fas. Collectively, our data support the idea that T cells play a multifaceted role in the maintenance of peripheral B cell tolerance that includes mediating the activation-induced death of autospecific B cells.

Adoptive Transfer↗

PubMed1999

Severe attenuation of the B cell immune response in Msh2-deficient mice.

Recently, results obtained from mice with targeted inactivations of postreplication DNA mismatch repair (MMR) genes have been interpreted to demonstrate a direct role for MMR in antibody variable (V) gene hypermutation. Here we show that mice that do not express the MMR factor Msh2 have wide-ranging defects in antigen-driven B cell responses. These include lack of progression of the germinal center (GC) reaction associated with increased intra-GC apoptosis, severely diminished antigen-specific immunoglobulin G responses, and near absence of anamnestic responses. Mice heterozygous for the Msh2 deficiency display an "intermediate" phenotype in these regards, suggesting that normal levels of Msh2 expression are critical for the B cell response. Interpretation of the impact of an MMR deficiency on the mechanism of V gene somatic hypermutation could be easily confounded by these perturbations.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Bcmd decreases the life span of B-2 but not B-1 cells in A/WySnJ mice.

Peripheral B cells are divided into two subpopulations, B-1 and B-2, the relationship of which remains obscure. We recently showed that the Bcmd mutation in A/WySnJ mice reduces average B cell life span, yielding 90% fewer peripheral B cells. Despite this defect, A/WySnJ mice have an elevated proportion of peritoneal CD5+ B cells, suggesting that Bcmd may be the first B-cell-intrinsic gene to differentially affect the B-1 and B-2 subpopulations. To test this hypothesis in detail, we have used in vivo BrdU labeling and four-color cytofluorometry to examine the numbers and turnover rates of sIgM+CD23-CD43+ (B-1) and sIgM+CD23+CD43- (B-2) splenocytes in A/WySnJ and A/J mice. The results show the expected 90% reduction of splenic B-2 cells among A/WySnJ mice, but a normal splenic B-1 cell pool. Increased B-1 cell renewal cannot explain this undiminished pool, because BrdU labeling kinetics reveals an identical splenic B-1 subset turnover rate of approximately 4%/day in both A/WySnJ and A/J strains. Thus, B-1 cells are Bcmd-independent but B-2 cells are Bcmd-dependent, suggesting Bcmd functions in a positive signaling pathway that imparts longevity to quiescent B cells, but that is not required for cycling B cells. Moreover these results show that the requisites for maturation and longevity differ between the B-1 and B-2 subsets.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

B cell maturation and selection at the marrow-periphery interface.

More than 95% of newly formed B cells die in the short interval spanning sIgM acquisition in the bone marrow and entry into the long-lived pool, suggesting that selective events dictating B cell longevity occur at this stage. These likely include both ligand-induced deletion as well as discrete events that mediate recruitment to the long-lived recirculating pool. We are probing these events through the examination of normal B cell differentiation during this critical period: the characterization of a natural mutation that blocks late maturation, an irradiation/autoreconstitution model of marrow-derived B cell differentiation, and the identification of life span regulatory genes whose expression changes within this window.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Bcmd governs recruitment of new B cells into the stable peripheral B cell pool in the A/WySnJ mouse.

The A/WySnJ mouse provides a genetic model for studying new B cell selection into the stable peripheral B cell pool. Unlike the related A/J strain, the A/WySnJ has a single, autosomal codominant gene defect, Bcmd, resulting in a profound peripheral B cell deficiency. Here, continuous in vivo bromodeoxyuridine labeling and immunofluorescence analysis showed normal bone marrow B cell genesis but excessive B cell loss from the marrow and each peripheral pool in A/WySnJ. The A/WySnJ immature B220low/HSAhigh splenic B cell pool was 79% smaller, had a 69% slower renewal rate, and its cells had a 29% shorter average half-life than A/J. The A/WySnJ mature B220high/HSAlow splenic B cell pool was 92% smaller, had an 83% slower renewal rate, and its cells had a 56% shorter average half-life. In reciprocal chimeras, the A/WySnJ marrow failed to repopulate the peripheral B cell pool in A/J mice, whereas the A/J marrow fully reconstituted the A/WySnJ mice. Histochemistry revealed disordered splenic architecture in A/WySnJ, with few primary lymphoid follicles and a second abnormal phenotype, mastocytosis. There was no common genetic basis for B cell deficiency and mastocytosis in the F2 progeny of an (A/WySnJ x CAST/Ei)F1 intercross. We conclude that Bcmd is expressed in bone marrow cells, most likely B cells, where it hinders short-lived B cell maturation to a long-lived phenotype with the potential to form memory B cells.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

Peripheral B cell maturation. II. Heat-stable antigen(hi) splenic B cells are an immature developmental intermediate in the production of long-lived marrow-derived B cells.

HSAhi B cells comprise 5 to 10% of adult mouse splenic B cells and are phenotypically and functionally immature. To assess their origin and relationship to mature, heat-stable Ag (HSA)lo B cells, we determined HSA and surface IgD phenotype among splenic B cells throughout development, as well as during reconstitution of lethally irradiated adults given adult B-depleted bone marrow. In each case, HSAhi splenic B cells predominate during the earliest stages of B cell genesis. Furthermore, 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine labeling experiments indicate rapid turnover within both the marrow and peripheral HSAhi pools, and adoptive transfer studies show that peripheral HSAhi splenic B cells differentiate to HSAlo within 4 days. Finally, splenic HSAhi B cells reconstitute both primary and memory humoral responses. Together, these data indicate that splenic B cells in the HSAhi subset are an intermediate maturational stage in the adult periphery.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

Endogenous expression of delta on the surface of WEHI-231. Characterization of its expression and signaling properties.

WEHI-231 is a murine B cell lymphoma that has been used extensively as a model for the immature stage B cell and its functional response to Ag receptor cross-linking as a model for immature B cell tolerance. This cell line expresses sIgM, CD5, and FcR gamma, but lacks the B cell-specific isoform of CD45 (B220). This study demonstrates for the first time that WEHI-231, in contrast to classically defined immature B cells, expresses delta on its surface. Analysis of delta on WEHI-231 revealed structural differences with respect to that on BAL-17 or primary splenic B cells. Although the m.w. of delta on the latter two B cell populations was similar, delta on WEHI-231 manifested a marked increase in its apparent m.w. deduced by SDS-PAGE. This difference was found to be due primarily to differential N-linked glycosylation. Signal transduction through the endogenous sIgD on WEHI-231 was investigated. In contrast to cross-linking of sIgM, cross-linking of the endogenous surface IgD on WEHI-231 was unable to generate a negative growth response in these cells. This inability may be due to uncoupling from normal surface Ig signaling pathways. The signaling properties of the endogenous sIgD on WEHI-231 differ from that on primary B cells and other sIgD-expressing cell lines. Whereas sIgD on splenic B lymphocytes or the mature B cell line BAL-17 is coupled to inositol phospholipid hydrolysis and calcium mobilization, cross-linking of sIgD on WEHI-231 failed to elicit these events, although induced changes in tyrosine phosphorylation were observed. Thus, endogenous expression of surface IgD on WEHI-231 is inconsistent with its representing the classically defined immature stage B cell. The structural and signaling differences associated with delta on these cells suggest the potential for developmentally regulated delta function and model for study of sIgD signal transduction.

Animals↗