Toll-like receptor 7 cooperates with IL-4 in activated B cells through antigen receptor or CD38 and induces class switch recombination and IgG1 production

Mol Immunol. 2009 Apr;46(7):1278-88. doi: 10.1016/j.molimm.2008.11.022. Epub 2009 Jan 20.

Abstract

IL-4 and 8-mercaptoguanosine (8-SGuo) stimulation of CD38-activated B cells induces mu to gamma1 class switch recombination (CSR) at the DNA level leading to a high level of IgG1 production. Although some of signaling events initiated by IL-4 in activated B cells have been characterized, the involvement of TLR/MyD88 and Btk pathway in IL-4-dependent mu to gamma1 CSR has not been thoroughly evaluated. In this study, we characterized receptors for 8-SGuo and differential roles of 8-SGuo and IL-4 in the induction and mu to gamma1 CSR and IgG1 production. The role of TLR7 and MyD88 in 8-SGuo-induced AID expression and mu to gamma1 CSR was documented, as 8-SGuo did not act on CD38-stimulated splenic B cells from Tlr7(-/-) and Myd88(-/-) mice. CD38-activated B cells from Btk-deficient mice failed to respond to TLR7 ligands for the AID expression and CSR, indicating that Btk is also indispensable for the system. Stimulation of CD38-activated B cells with 8-SGuo induced significant AID expression and DNA double strand breaks, but IL-4 stimulation by itself did not trigger mu to gamma1 CSR. Intriguingly, the mu to gamma1 CSR in the B cells stimulated with CD38 and 8-SGuo totally depends on IL-4 stimulation. Similar results were obtained in the activated B cells through BCR and loxoribine, a well-known TLR7 ligand, in place of 8-SGuo. In vivo administration of TLR7 ligand and anti-CD38 antibody induced the generation of CD138(+) IgG1(+) cells. These results indicate that TLR7 is a receptor for 8-SGuo and plays an essential role in the AID and Blimp-1 expression; however it is not enough to complete mu to gamma1 CSR in CD38-activated B cells. IL-4 may be required for the induction of DNA repair system together with AID for the completion of CSR.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1 / immunology
  • ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1 / metabolism
  • ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1 / physiology*
  • Animals
  • Antibodies / pharmacology
  • B-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • B-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cytidine Deaminase / genetics
  • Cytidine Deaminase / metabolism
  • Cytidine Deaminase / physiology
  • Drug Synergism
  • Guanosine / analogs & derivatives
  • Guanosine / metabolism
  • Guanosine / pharmacology
  • Immunoglobulin Class Switching* / drug effects
  • Immunoglobulin Class Switching* / genetics
  • Immunoglobulin Class Switching* / physiology
  • Immunoglobulin G / biosynthesis*
  • Interleukin-4 / metabolism
  • Interleukin-4 / pharmacology
  • Interleukin-4 / physiology*
  • Lymphocyte Activation* / drug effects
  • Lymphocyte Activation* / genetics
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / agonists
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / genetics
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / immunology
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / metabolism
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / physiology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Models, Biological
  • Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88 / genetics
  • Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88 / metabolism
  • Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88 / physiology
  • Positive Regulatory Domain I-Binding Factor 1
  • Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / metabolism
  • Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / physiology*
  • Recombination, Genetic / drug effects
  • Recombination, Genetic / immunology
  • Toll-Like Receptor 7 / agonists
  • Toll-Like Receptor 7 / genetics
  • Toll-Like Receptor 7 / metabolism
  • Toll-Like Receptor 7 / physiology*
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Transcription Factors / physiology

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Myd88 protein, mouse
  • Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88
  • Prdm1 protein, mouse
  • Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell
  • Tlr7 protein, mouse
  • Toll-Like Receptor 7
  • Transcription Factors
  • Guanosine
  • Interleukin-4
  • loxoribine
  • Positive Regulatory Domain I-Binding Factor 1
  • Cd38 protein, mouse
  • ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1
  • AICDA (activation-induced cytidine deaminase)
  • Cytidine Deaminase