A functional BCR in Human IgA and IgM Plasma Cells
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1
Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Switzerland
Plasma cells are terminally differentiated cells of the B cell lineage that secrete antibodies at high rate. Serum IgG antibodies and consequently IgG PCs can persist for a lifetime, although displacement by newly generated PCs and susceptibility to FcRIIB-mediated apoptosis increase their turnover. In contrast, the IgA PCs present in the lamina propria show a high turnover rate. These findings suggest different mechanisms of regulation of IgG and IgA PCs.
BCR expression is required for memory B cells survival, but is thought to be lost on mature plasma cells due to a secretory switch in the Ig mRNA. Here, we report that human IgA and IgM unlike IgG plasma cells express a membrane functional BCR associated with the Igα/Igβ heterodimer. Importantly, this is shown for in vitro derived as well as ex vivo plasma cells isolated from bone marrow and gut lamina propria. BCR crosslinking on IgA and IgM plasma cells led to Ca2+ mobilization, ERK1/2 and AKT phosphorylation and impacted survival of IgA plasma cells. These findings demonstrate a fundamental difference between human IgG, IgM or IgA plasma cells and suggest that the IgA plasma cell repertoire may be modulated by specific antigens with implications for the regulation of the mucosal immune system.
Keywords:
B cells,
Plasma Cells,
BCR signaling,
IgA,
IgM
Conference:
15th International Congress of Immunology (ICI), Milan, Italy, 22 Aug - 27 Aug, 2013.
Presentation Type:
Abstract
Topic:
Adaptive Immunity
Citation:
Jarrossay
D,
Pinto
D,
Montani
E,
Sallusto
F and
Lanzavecchia
A
(2013). A functional BCR in Human IgA and IgM Plasma Cells.
Front. Immunol.
Conference Abstract:
15th International Congress of Immunology (ICI).
doi: 10.3389/conf.fimmu.2013.02.00021
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Received:
08 Mar 2013;
Published Online:
22 Aug 2013.
*
Correspondence:
Dr. David Jarrossay, Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Bellinzona, Switzerland, david.jarrossay@irb.usi.ch