Loss of tolerance of anti-dsDNA B cells in mice overexpressing CD19

Mol Immunol. 2006 Apr;43(11):1776-90. doi: 10.1016/j.molimm.2005.11.003. Epub 2006 Jan 20.

Abstract

Mice transgenic for the R4A-Cmu heavy chain of an anti-dsDNA antibody, maintain tolerance by anergy and deletion. In C57BL/6 mice overexpressing CD19, a molecule, which lowers the threshold for B cell activation, elevated levels of serum autoantibodies have been observed. In the present study, we wished to determine whether CD19 overexpression could alter the induction of tolerance in R4A-Cmu mice and lead to the secretion of transgenic anti-dsDNA antibodies. We, therefore, bred R4A-Cmu transgenic mice-to-mice transgenic for human CD19 (hCD19) and generated R4A-Cmu mice heterozygous and homozygous for hCD19. We, now report the spontaneous secretion of transgenic IgM anti-dsDNA antibody in the sera of R4A-Cmu mice overexpressing CD19, indicative of a loss of B cell tolerance. We observe that transgenic B cells secreting anti-dsDNA antibody in these mice are T independent and display a marginal zone like phenotype althought they do not reside in the MZ. In addition, they appear to be derived from the conventional B2 subset rather than the B1 subset. Interestingly, a subset of the anti-dsDNA B cells in these mice still display the phenotype and functional characteristics of anergic B cells. These B cells cannot be activated to secrete antibody following BCR crosslinking, however, they are hyper-responsive to activation by innate signaling mechanisms. This suggests that CD19 overexpression may promote anergic B cells to escape tolerance by converging with BCR independent pathways, thereby rendering these B cells hyper-responsive to innate signaling.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies / immunology
  • Antibodies / metabolism
  • Antigens, CD19 / genetics
  • Antigens, CD19 / immunology
  • Antigens, CD19 / metabolism*
  • B-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology*
  • B-Lymphocyte Subsets / metabolism*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Clonal Anergy / immunology
  • DNA / immunology*
  • Gene Expression
  • Humans
  • Immune Tolerance / immunology*
  • Immunity, Innate / immunology
  • Immunoglobulin M / immunology
  • Immunoglobulin M / metabolism
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Peritoneum / cytology
  • Signal Transduction
  • Spleen / cytology

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • Antigens, CD19
  • Immunoglobulin M
  • DNA