PECAM-1-regulated signalling thresholds control tolerance in anergic transgenic B-cells

Mol Immunol. 2008 Mar;45(6):1767-81. doi: 10.1016/j.molimm.2007.09.024. Epub 2007 Oct 30.

Abstract

Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 (PECAM-1/CD31) is an immunoglobulin (Ig)-immunoreceptor tyrosine based inhibitory motif (Ig-ITIM) superfamily member that recruits and activates protein-tyrosine phosphatases, predominantly SHP-2 and to a lesser extent, SHP-1. Previously, we have shown that deletion of PECAM-1 results in a hyper-proliferative B-cell phenotype. We wanted to test whether the Ig-ITIM superfamily member, PECAM-1 maintains peripheral tolerance by regulating signalling thresholds of B-cells that control autoantibody production or relaxed negative selection of autoreactive B-cells in bone marrow. In order to address this issue, we utilised the classical model of lysozyme/immunoglobulin transgenic mouse model that defines thresholds for eliminating or inactivating self-reactive B-cells. In this study, we show that breeding of double transgenes: soluble hen egg lysozyme (HEL) and its corresponding high-affinity receptor (HEL-Ig) onto PECAM-1 null background resulted in a spontaneous loss of B-cell tolerance in vivo. The resultant PECAM-1(-/-) Dbl Tg mice displayed elevated levels of anti-HEL immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies in the serum compared to PECAM-1+/+ anergic counterparts. Dbl Tg B-cells lacking PECAM-1 showed enhanced B-cell proliferation and calcium flux responses to LPS, IL-4 alone, IgM cross-linking and IL-4 indicating augmentation of antigen-receptor signalling. Thus, PECAM-1 is important in maintaining peripheral tolerance in Dbl Tg B-cells.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Autoantibodies / immunology
  • B-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Bone Marrow / immunology
  • Calcium / immunology
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cross-Linking Reagents / pharmacology
  • Immune Tolerance*
  • Immunoglobulin M / pharmacology
  • Interleukin-4 / immunology
  • Lipopolysaccharides / pharmacology
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Muramidase / immunology
  • Muramidase / pharmacology
  • Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / genetics
  • Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / immunology*
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Autoantibodies
  • Cross-Linking Reagents
  • Immunoglobulin M
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1
  • Interleukin-4
  • hen egg lysozyme
  • Muramidase
  • Calcium