Vav proteins regulate peripheral B-cell survival

Blood. 2005 Oct 1;106(7):2391-8. doi: 10.1182/blood-2004-12-4894. Epub 2005 Jun 7.

Abstract

Mice lacking all 3 Vav proteins fail to produce significant numbers of recirculating follicular or marginal zone B cells. Those B cells that do mature have shortened lifespans. The constitutive nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) activity of resting naive B cells required Vav function and expression of cellular reticuloendotheliosis (c-Rel). Rel-A was reduced in Vav-deficient B cells. Furthermore, expression of the NF-kappaB-regulated antiapoptotic genes A1 and Bcl-2 was reduced in mature Vav-deficient B cells. Overexpression of Bcl-2 restored the number of mature follicular B cells in the spleens of Vav-deficient mice. When activated by B-cell receptor (BCR) cross-linking, Vav-deficient B cells failed to activate NF-kappaB. Vav proteins thus regulate an NF-kappaB-dependent survival signal in naive B cells and are required for NF-kappaB function after BCR cross-linking.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis
  • B-Lymphocytes / cytology*
  • Blotting, Western
  • Bone Marrow Cells / cytology
  • Bromodeoxyuridine / pharmacology
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cell Separation
  • Cell Survival
  • Coloring Agents / pharmacology
  • Cross-Linking Reagents / pharmacology
  • Down-Regulation
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Gene Expression Regulation*
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / genetics
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / physiology*
  • Mice
  • Mutation
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-rel / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-vav / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-vav / physiology*
  • Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / metabolism
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • Spleen / cytology
  • Time Factors
  • Transcription Factor RelA / metabolism
  • Transgenes

Substances

  • Coloring Agents
  • Cross-Linking Reagents
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors
  • NF-kappa B
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-rel
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-vav
  • Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Transcription Factor RelA
  • Vav2 protein, mouse
  • Vav3 protein, mouse
  • Bromodeoxyuridine