CD11c-Specific Deletion Reveals CREB as a Critical Regulator of DC Function during the Germinal Center Response

J Immunol Res. 2018 May 7:2018:8947230. doi: 10.1155/2018/8947230. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

Dendritic cells (DCs) are crucial for the balance between immune response and tolerance, but the molecular mechanism regulating development, differentiation, and homeostasis are poorly understood. The transcriptional activator CREB is involved in regulating different cells of the innate and adaptive immune system and is a transcriptional regulator of development, survival, activation, or proliferation in macrophages, dendritic cells, B cells, and T cells. To directly examine the role of CREB in the regulation of DCs, the CREB gene was targeted for deletion with a CD11c-cre transgene. The deletion of CREB in CD11c+ cells did not involve any developmental or systemic defects within DC populations. However, CREB deficiency in CD11c+ cells reduced germinal center (GC) B cells in steady state, and immunization with NP-CGG resulted in a reduced formation of GCs, paralleled by the reduced production of IgGs in sera of immunized mice. In conclusion, we demonstrate that CREB expression in CD11c+ cells enhances germinal center responses, most likely by altering DC function, which might have implications for autoimmune diseases that are associated with dysregulated GC responses.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigen Presentation
  • Autoimmune Diseases / immunology*
  • B-Lymphocytes / physiology*
  • CD11c Antigen / metabolism
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein / genetics
  • Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein / metabolism*
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology*
  • Germinal Center / immunology*
  • Immunization
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout

Substances

  • CD11c Antigen
  • Creb1 protein, mouse
  • Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein
  • Immunoglobulin G