B cell maturation antigen, the receptor for a proliferation-inducing ligand and B cell-activating factor of the TNF family, induces antigen presentation in B cells

J Immunol. 2005 Sep 1;175(5):2814-24. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.175.5.2814.

Abstract

B cell maturation Ag (BCMA), a member of the TNFR superfamily expressed on B cells, binds to a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) and B cell-activating factor of the TNF family (BAFF) but the specific B cell responses regulated by BCMA remain unclear. This study demonstrates that ligation of A20 B cells transfected with BCMA induces the expression of CD40, CD80/B7-1, CD86/B7-2, MHC class II, and CD54/ICAM-1, which subsequently enhances the presentation of OVA peptide Ag to DO11.10 T cells. BCMA expression in murine splenic B cells can be induced with IL-4 and IL-6, allowing subsequent treatment with APRIL or agonist anti-BCMA to similarly induce Ag presentation. A comparative analysis of hybrid receptors of TNFR2 fused to the cytoplasmic domains of APRIL/BAFF receptors found that only BCMA, but not transmembrane activator and calcium-modulator and cyclophilin ligand interactor or BAFF-R, is capable of activating Ag presentation. Although all three receptors can trigger NF-kappaB signaling, only BCMA activates the JNK pathway conferring on BCMA the specific ability to activate this Ag presentation response.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigen Presentation*
  • B-Cell Activating Factor
  • B-Cell Maturation Antigen
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • CD40 Antigens / physiology
  • Cell Line
  • JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / physiology
  • Membrane Proteins / physiology
  • Mice
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / physiology*
  • Signal Transduction
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor Ligand Superfamily Member 13
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / physiology

Substances

  • B-Cell Activating Factor
  • B-Cell Maturation Antigen
  • CD40 Antigens
  • Membrane Proteins
  • NF-kappa B
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor
  • Tnfrsf17 protein, mouse
  • Tnfsf13 protein, mouse
  • Tnfsf13b protein, mouse
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor Ligand Superfamily Member 13
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases