The transcription factor Hhex cooperates with the corepressor Tle3 to promote memory B cell development

Nat Immunol. 2020 Sep;21(9):1082-1093. doi: 10.1038/s41590-020-0713-6. Epub 2020 Jun 29.

Abstract

Memory B cells (MBCs) are essential for long-lived humoral immunity. However, the transcription factors involved in MBC differentiation are poorly defined. Here, using single-cell RNA sequencing analysis, we identified a population of germinal center (GC) B cells in the process of differentiating into MBCs. Using an inducible CRISPR-Cas9 screening approach, we identified the hematopoietically expressed homeobox protein Hhex as a transcription factor regulating MBC differentiation. The corepressor Tle3 was also identified in the screen and was found to interact with Hhex to promote MBC development. Bcl-6 directly repressed Hhex in GC B cells. Reciprocally, Hhex-deficient MBCs exhibited increased Bcl6 expression and reduced expression of the Bcl-6 target gene Bcl2. Overexpression of Bcl-2 was able to rescue MBC differentiation in Hhex-deficient cells. We also identified Ski as an Hhex-induced transcription factor involved in MBC differentiation. These findings establish an important role for Hhex-Tle3 in regulating the transcriptional circuitry governing MBC differentiation.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • B-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology*
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • CRISPR-Cas Systems
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Co-Repressor Proteins / genetics
  • Co-Repressor Proteins / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Germinal Center / immunology*
  • Homeodomain Proteins / genetics
  • Homeodomain Proteins / metabolism*
  • Immunologic Memory
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-6 / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-6 / metabolism
  • Sequence Analysis, RNA
  • Single-Cell Analysis
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*

Substances

  • Co-Repressor Proteins
  • Hhex protein, mouse
  • Homeodomain Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-6
  • Tle3 protein, mouse
  • Transcription Factors