Immune Netw.  2020 Oct;20(5):e42. 10.4110/in.2020.20.e42.

CCAAT/enhancer binding protein β Induces Post-Switched B Cells to Produce Blimp1 and Differentiate into Plasma Cells

• Lee G
• Jang E
• Youn J

• KMID: 2511868
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4110/in.2020.20.e42

Abstract

Long-lasting post-switched plasma cells (PCs) arise mainly from germinal center (GC) reactions, but little is known about the mechanism by which GC B cells differentiate into PCs. Based on our observation that the expression of the transcription factor CCAAT/ enhancer binding protein β (C/EPBβ) is associated with the emergence of post-switched PCs, we enquired whether a cell-autonomous function of C/EPBβ is involved in the program for PC development. To address this, we generated C/EPBβ-deficient mice in which the Cebpb locus was specifically deleted in B cells after transcription of the Ig γ1 constant gene segment (Cγ1). In response to in vitro stimulation, B cells from these Cebpb^fl/flCγ1^Cre/+ mice had defects in the induction of B lymphocyte-induced maturation protein 1 (Blimp1) and the formation of IgG1 + PCs, but not in proliferation and survival. At steady state, the Cebpb^fl/flCγ1^Cre/+ mice had reduced serum IgG1 titers but normal IgG2c and IgM titers. Moreover, upon immunization with T-dependent Ag, the mice produced reduced levels of Ag-specific IgG1 Ab, and were defective in the production of Ag-specific IgG1 Ab-secreting cells. These results suggest that a cellautonomous function of C/EPBβ is crucial for differentiation of post-switched GC B cells into PCs through a Blimp1-dependent pathway.

Keyword

Plasma cells; Immunoglobulin class switching; C/EBPβ