RasGRP1 and RasGRP3 regulate B cell proliferation by facilitating B cell receptor-Ras signaling

J Immunol. 2005 Dec 1;175(11):7179-84. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.175.11.7179.

Abstract

The RasGRPs are a family of Ras activators that possess diacylglycerol-binding C1 domains. In T cells, RasGRP1 links TCR signaling to Ras. B cells coexpress RasGRP1 and RasGRP3. Using Rasgrp1 and Rasgrp3 single and double null mutant mice, we analyzed the role of these proteins in signaling to Ras and Erk in B cells. RasGRP1 and RasGRP3 both contribute to BCR-induced Ras activation, although RasGRP3 alone is responsible for maintaining basal Ras-GTP levels in unstimulated cells. Surprisingly, RasGRP-mediated Ras activation is not essential for B cell development because this process occurs normally in double-mutant mice. However, RasGRP-deficient mice do exhibit humoral defects. Loss of RasGRP3 led to isotype-specific deficiencies in Ab induction in immunized young mice. As reported previously, older Rasgrp1-/- mice develop splenomegaly and antinuclear Abs as a result of a T cell defect. We find that such mice have elevated serum Ig levels of several isotypes. In contrast, Rasgrp3-/- mice exhibit hypogammaglobulinemia and show no signs of splenomegaly or autoimmunity. Double-mutant mice exhibit intermediate serum Ab titers, albeit higher than wild-type mice. Remarkably, double-mutant mice exhibit no signs of autoimmunity or splenomegaly. B cell proliferation induced by BCR ligation with or without IL-4 was found to be RasGRP1- and RasGRP3-dependent. However, the RasGRPs are not required for B cell proliferation per se, because LPS-induced proliferation is unaffected in double-mutant mice.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibody Formation / immunology*
  • Autoimmunity / immunology
  • B-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • B-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Cell Proliferation*
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / deficiency
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / immunology*
  • Immunoglobulin Isotypes / immunology
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Mutant Strains
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / immunology
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / immunology*
  • Signal Transduction / immunology
  • ras Proteins / immunology*
  • ras Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors
  • Immunoglobulin Isotypes
  • Rasgrp1 protein, mouse
  • Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • ras Proteins