Cell-surface CD74 initiates a signaling cascade leading to cell proliferation and survival

Blood. 2006 Jun 15;107(12):4807-16. doi: 10.1182/blood-2005-11-4334. Epub 2006 Feb 16.

Abstract

CD74 is an integral membrane protein that was thought to function mainly as an MHC class II chaperone. However, CD74 was recently shown to have a role as an accessory-signaling molecule. Our studies demonstrated that CD74 regulates B-cell differentiation by inducing a pathway leading to the activation of transcription mediated by the NF-kappaB p65/RelA homodimer and its coactivator, TAF(II)105. Here, we show that CD74 stimulation with anti-CD74 antibody leads to an induction of a signaling cascade resulting in NF-kappaB activation, entry of the stimulated cells into the S phase, elevation of DNA synthesis, cell division, and augmented expression of BCL-X(L). These studies therefore demonstrate that surface CD74 functions as a survival receptor.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte / genetics
  • Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte / immunology*
  • B-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Cell Differentiation / genetics
  • Cell Differentiation / immunology*
  • Cell Survival / genetics
  • Cell Survival / immunology
  • DNA / genetics
  • DNA / immunology
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / genetics
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • S Phase / immunology*
  • Signal Transduction / genetics
  • Signal Transduction / immunology*
  • TATA-Binding Protein Associated Factors / genetics
  • TATA-Binding Protein Associated Factors / immunology
  • Transcription Factor RelA / genetics
  • Transcription Factor RelA / immunology
  • Transcription Factor TFIID / genetics
  • Transcription Factor TFIID / immunology
  • Transcription, Genetic / genetics
  • Transcription, Genetic / immunology
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • bcl-X Protein / genetics
  • bcl-X Protein / immunology

Substances

  • Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte
  • Bcl2l1 protein, mouse
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II
  • Rela protein, mouse
  • TATA-Binding Protein Associated Factors
  • Taf4b protein, mouse
  • Transcription Factor RelA
  • Transcription Factor TFIID
  • bcl-X Protein
  • invariant chain
  • DNA