Immunomodulation of human B cells following treatment with intravenous immunoglobulins involves increased phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2

Int Immunol. 2008 Nov;20(11):1369-79. doi: 10.1093/intimm/dxn090. Epub 2008 Aug 8.

Abstract

In the treatment of autoimmune diseases, intravenous Igs (IVIg) are assumed to modulate immune cells through the binding of surface receptors. IVIg act upon definite human B cell populations to modulate Ig repertoire, and such modulation might proceed through intracellular signaling. However, the heterogeneity of human B cell populations complicates investigations of the intracellular pathways involved in IVIg-induced B cell modulation. The aim of this study was to establish a model allowing the screening of IVIg signal transduction in human B cell lines and to attempt transposing observations made in cell lines to normal human B lymphocytes. Nine human B cell lines were treated with IVIg with the goal of selecting the most suitable model for human B lymphocytes. The IgG(+) DB cell line, whose response was similar to that of human B lymphocytes, showed reduced IVIg modulation following addition of PD98059, an inhibitor of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2). The IVIg-induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation was indeed proportional to the dosage of monomeric IVIg used when tested on DB cells as well as Pfeiffer cells, another IgG(+) cell line. In addition, two other intermediates, Grb2-associated binder 1 (Gab1) and Akt, showed increased phosphorylation in IVIg-treated DB cells. IVIg induction of ERK1/2 phosphorylation was finally observed in peripheral human B lymphocytes, specifically within the IgG(+) B cell population. In conclusion, IVIg immunomodulation of human B cells can thus be linked to intracellular transduction pathways involving the phosphorylation of ERK1/2, which in combination with Gab1 and Akt, may be related to B cell antigen receptor signaling.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • B-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology
  • B-Lymphocyte Subsets / metabolism*
  • B-Lymphocytes / drug effects*
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • B-Lymphocytes / metabolism*
  • Cell Differentiation / drug effects
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Flavonoids / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / pharmacology*
  • Immunologic Factors / pharmacology
  • Immunologic Memory
  • Immunosuppression Therapy
  • Lymphocyte Activation / drug effects
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / metabolism*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Pyrimidines / pharmacology
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Signal Transduction / immunology

Substances

  • AG 1879
  • Flavonoids
  • Immunoglobulins, Intravenous
  • Immunologic Factors
  • Pyrimidines
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3
  • 2-(2-amino-3-methoxyphenyl)-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one