The BTB-kelch protein KLHL6 is involved in B-lymphocyte antigen receptor signaling and germinal center formation

Mol Cell Biol. 2005 Oct;25(19):8531-40. doi: 10.1128/MCB.25.19.8531-8540.2005.

Abstract

BTB-kelch proteins can elicit diverse biological functions but very little is known about the physiological role of these proteins in vivo. Kelch-like protein 6 (KLHL6) is a BTB-kelch protein with a lymphoid tissue-restricted expression pattern. In the B-lymphocyte lineage, KLHL6 is expressed throughout ontogeny, and KLHL6 expression is strongly upregulated in germinal center (GC) B cells. To analyze the role of KLHL6 in vivo, we have generated mouse mutants of KLHL6. Development of pro- and pre-B cells was normal but numbers of subsequent stages, transitional 1 and 2, and mature B cells were reduced in KLHL6-deficient mice. The antigen-dependent GC reaction was blunted (smaller GCs, reduced B-cell expansion, and reduced memory antibody response) in the absence of KLHL6. Comparison of mutants with global loss of KLHL6 to mutants lacking KLHL6 specifically in B cells demonstrated a B-cell-intrinsic requirement for KLHL6 expression. Finally, B-cell antigen receptor (BCR) cross-linking was less sensitive in KLHL6-deficient B cells compared to wild-type B cells as measured by proliferation, Ca2+ response, and activation of phospholipase Cgamma2. Our results strongly point to a role for KLHL6 in BCR signal transduction and formation of the full germinal center response.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • B-Lymphocytes / cytology*
  • B-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Calcium / metabolism
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism
  • Carrier Proteins / physiology*
  • Cell Lineage
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cell Separation
  • Chromosomes, Artificial, Bacterial
  • DNA, Complementary / metabolism
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Genotype
  • Germinal Center / metabolism*
  • Immunoblotting
  • Immunoprecipitation
  • In Situ Hybridization
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Mutation
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Signal Transduction
  • Time Factors
  • Tissue Distribution
  • Up-Regulation

Substances

  • Carrier Proteins
  • DNA, Complementary
  • Klhl6 protein, mouse
  • Calcium