Extracellular calcium sensing promotes human B-cell activation and function

Blood. 2007 Dec 1;110(12):3985-95. doi: 10.1182/blood-2007-05-088468. Epub 2007 Aug 27.

Abstract

Calcium is a second messenger for many signaling pathways in B cells, but its role as a receptor ligand has not been well characterized. However, pulses of free calcium were found to cause the rapid release of internal calcium stores in normal human B cells. This response appeared to be mediated by a cell surface protein with receptor properties as it could be blocked by pretreatment with trypsin and with kinase and phospholipase Cgamma inhibitors. The calcium receptor on B cells was not the conventional calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) since B cells did not express CaSR and calcium-induced responses could not be blocked by specific CaSR inhibitors. B-cell responses to extracellular calcium activated phosphoinositide-3 kinase/AKT, calcineurin, extracellular signal regulated kinase, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, protein kinase C, Ca(2+)/calmodulin kinase II, and nuclear factor-kappaB signaling pathways, and resulted in transcription of the early response gene, CD83. This extracellular calcium sensor enhanced B-cell responses to Toll-like receptor, B-cell receptor, and cytokine receptor agonists. These findings suggest a means by which B cells prepare to engage in immune responses by responding to calcium fluctuations in their environment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antigens, CD / biosynthesis
  • Antigens, CD / immunology
  • B-Lymphocytes / enzymology
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • CD83 Antigen
  • Calcineurin / immunology
  • Calcineurin / metabolism
  • Calcium / immunology*
  • Calcium / metabolism
  • Calcium Signaling / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulins / biosynthesis
  • Immunoglobulins / immunology
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology*
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / biosynthesis
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / immunology
  • NF-kappa B / immunology
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Phospholipase C gamma / immunology
  • Phospholipase C gamma / metabolism
  • Phosphotransferases / immunology
  • Phosphotransferases / metabolism
  • Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / immunology
  • Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / metabolism
  • Receptors, Calcium-Sensing / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Receptors, Calcium-Sensing / immunology
  • Receptors, Calcium-Sensing / metabolism
  • Receptors, Cytokine / agonists
  • Receptors, Cytokine / immunology
  • Receptors, Cytokine / metabolism
  • Toll-Like Receptors / immunology
  • Toll-Like Receptors / metabolism
  • Transcription, Genetic / drug effects
  • Transcription, Genetic / immunology

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • Immunoglobulins
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • NF-kappa B
  • Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell
  • Receptors, Calcium-Sensing
  • Receptors, Cytokine
  • Toll-Like Receptors
  • Phosphotransferases
  • Calcineurin
  • Phospholipase C gamma
  • Calcium