Distinct response in maintenance of human naive and memory B cells via IL-21 receptor and TCL1/Akt pathways

作者：Nagumo Haruo^*; Abe Jun; Kano Hirotsugu; Taki Shinsuke; Yamazaki Kazuko; Yamazaki Takashi; Kobayashi Norimoto; Koike Kenichi; Sugane Kazuo; Saito Hirohisa; Agematsu Kazunaga

来源：Cellular Immunology, 2009, 256(1-2): 56-63.

DOI：10.1016/j.cellimm.2009.01.005

• Naive B cells
• Memory B cells
• Maintenance
• Lifespan
• IL-21 receptor
• TCL1
• Akt

The molecular mechanisms involving in B-cell survival/proliferation are poorly understood. Here we investigated the molecules affecting the survival of human naive and memory B cells. Without stimulation, naive B cells survived longer than memory B cells. Moreover, the viability of memory B cells decreased more rapidly than that of naive B cells following with Staphylococcus aureus Cowan strain (SAC), anti-immunoglobulin (lg), or anti-CD40 stimulation, but displayed the same levels of survival following CpG DNA stimulation. We analyzed the transcriptional differences between B-cell subsets by gene expression profiling, and identified 15 genes significantly correlated to survival/proliferation. Among them, IL-21 receptor (IL-21R) and T-cell leukemia I (TCL1) proto-oncogene were highly expressed in naive B cells. IL-21 induced the proliferation of both naive and memory B cells. Marked phosphorylation of Akt was found in naive B cells compared with memory B cells. This study suggests that naive and memory B cells are regulated by several distinct molecules, and the IL-21R and TCL1/Akt pathways might play crucial roles in naive B cells for their maintenance.

• 出版日期2009