Notch-regulated periphery B cell differentiation involves suppression of E protein function

J Immunol. 2013 Jul 15;191(2):726-36. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1202134. Epub 2013 Jun 10.

Abstract

Notch signaling pathway plays important roles in promoting the generation of marginal zone (MZ) B cells at the expense of follicular (FO) B cells during periphery B cell maturation, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are not well understood. We hypothesize that Notch favors the generation of MZ B cells by downregulating E protein activity. In this study, we demonstrated that expression of Id2 and ankyrin-repeat SOCS box-containing protein 2 was elevated in MZ B cells and by Notch signaling. Id2 inhibits the DNA binding activity of E proteins, whereas ankyrin-repeat SOCS box-containing protein 2 facilitates E protein ubiquitination. Next, we examined the phenotypes of splenic B cells in mice expressing constitutively active Notch1 and/or two gain-of-function mutants of E proteins that counteract Id2-mediated inhibition or Notch-induced degradation. We found that upregulation of E proteins promoted the formation of FO B cells, whereas it suppressed the maturation of MZ B cells. In contrast, excessive amounts of Notch1 stimulated the differentiation of MZ B cells and inhibited the production of FO B cells. More interestingly, the effects of Notch1 were reversed by gain of E protein function. Furthermore, high levels of Bcl-6 expression in FO B cells was shown to be diminished by Notch signaling and restored by E proteins. In addition, E proteins facilitated and Notch hindered the differentiation of transitional B cells. Taken together, it appears that Notch regulates peripheral B cell differentiation, at least in part, through opposing E protein function.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Ankyrin Repeat
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • B-Lymphocytes / metabolism*
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cells, Cultured
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Inhibitor of Differentiation Protein 2 / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-6 / metabolism
  • Receptor, Notch1 / genetics
  • Receptor, Notch1 / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Prostaglandin E / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction
  • Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins / metabolism*
  • Ubiquitination

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Idb2 protein, mouse
  • Inhibitor of Differentiation Protein 2
  • Notch1 protein, mouse
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-6
  • Receptor, Notch1
  • Receptors, Prostaglandin E
  • Socs2 protein, mouse
  • Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins