Osteoblastic regulation of B lymphopoiesis is mediated by Gs{alpha}-dependent signaling pathways

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2008 Nov 4;105(44):16976-81. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0802898105. Epub 2008 Oct 28.

Abstract

Osteoblasts play an increasingly recognized role in supporting hematopoietic development and recently have been implicated in the regulation of B lymphopoiesis. Here we demonstrate that the heterotrimeric G protein alpha subunit G(s)alpha is required in cells of the osteoblast lineage for normal postnatal B lymphocyte production. Deletion of G(s)alpha early in the osteoblast lineage results in a 59% decrease in the percentage of B cell precursors in the bone marrow. Analysis of peripheral blood from mutant mice revealed a 67% decrease in the number of circulating B lymphocytes by 10 days of age. Strikingly, other mature hematopoietic lineages are not decreased significantly. Mice lacking G(s)alpha in cells of the osteoblast lineage exhibit a reduction in pro-B and pre-B cells. Furthermore, interleukin (IL)-7 expression is attenuated in G(s)alpha-deficient osteoblasts, and exogenous IL-7 is able to restore B cell precursor populations in the bone marrow of mutant mice. Finally, the defect in B lymphopoiesis can be rescued by transplantation into a WT microenvironment. These findings confirm that osteoblasts are an important component of the B lymphocyte niche and demonstrate in vivo that G(s)alpha-dependent signaling pathways in cells of the osteoblast lineage extrinsically regulate bone marrow B lymphopoiesis, at least partially in an IL-7-dependent manner.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • B-Lymphocytes / cytology*
  • B-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Bone Marrow Transplantation
  • Chemokine CXCL12 / genetics
  • Chemokine CXCL12 / metabolism
  • GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gs / genetics
  • GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gs / metabolism*
  • Interleukin-7 / immunology
  • Interleukin-7 / metabolism
  • Lymphopoiesis / physiology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Osteoblasts / cytology
  • Osteoblasts / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction*

Substances

  • Chemokine CXCL12
  • Cxcl12 protein, mouse
  • Interleukin-7
  • GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gs