Combined deficiencies in Bruton tyrosine kinase and phospholipase Cgamma2 arrest B-cell development at a pre-BCR+ stage

Blood. 2007 Apr 15;109(8):3377-84. doi: 10.1182/blood-2006-07-036418. Epub 2006 Dec 12.

Abstract

Bruton tyrosine kinase (Btk) and phospholipase Cgamma2 (PLCgamma2) are 2 key molecules involved in B-cell receptor (BCR) signaling. Biochemical studies have placed them in a linear signaling pathway, with Btk acting upstream of PLCgamma2. Consistent with this, mice lacking either molecule display a leaky but similar block in B-cell development. Here, we generated Btk(-/-) PLCgamma2(-/-) mice and showed that combined deficiencies in Btk and PLCgamma2 severely arrested B lymphopoiesis at the large pre-B-cell stage. In contrast to either single mutant, Btk(-/-) PLCgamma2(-/-) pre-B cells expressed high levels of pre-BCR on their cell surfaces and exhibited reduced immunoglobulin light chain gene rearrangements. Pre-BCR-induced calcium signaling was also drastically compromised in Btk(-/-) PLCgamma2(-/-) pre-B cells compared with wild-type and single-mutant cells. Interestingly, immunoglobulin heavy chain allelic exclusion remained intact in the absence of Btk and PLCgamma2. Overall, our results suggest that Btk and PLCgamma2 have combinatorial roles in regulating pre-B cell differentiation.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Agammaglobulinaemia Tyrosine Kinase
  • Animals
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Calcium Signaling / genetics
  • Calcium Signaling / immunology
  • Cell Differentiation / genetics
  • Cell Differentiation / immunology*
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / immunology*
  • Immunoglobulin Light Chains / genetics
  • Immunoglobulin Light Chains / immunology
  • Lymphopoiesis / genetics
  • Lymphopoiesis / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Phospholipase C gamma / deficiency*
  • Phospholipase C gamma / immunology
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / deficiency*
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / immunology
  • Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / immunology*
  • Somatic Hypermutation, Immunoglobulin / genetics
  • Somatic Hypermutation, Immunoglobulin / immunology

Substances

  • Immunoglobulin Light Chains
  • Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • Agammaglobulinaemia Tyrosine Kinase
  • Btk protein, mouse
  • Phospholipase C gamma