Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ B cell-specific-deficient mice have an impaired antibody response

J Immunol. 2012 Nov 15;189(10):4740-7. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1200956. Epub 2012 Oct 5.

Abstract

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are members of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily. PPARγ, a ligand-activated transcription factor, has important anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative functions, and it has been associated with diseases including diabetes, scarring, and atherosclerosis, among others. PPARγ is expressed in most bone marrow-derived cells and influences their function. PPARγ ligands can stimulate human B cell differentiation and promote Ab production. A knowledge gap is that the role of PPARγ in B cells under physiological conditions is not known. We developed a new B cell-specific PPARγ (B-PPARγ) knockout mouse and explored the role of PPARγ during both the primary and secondary immune response. In this article, we show that PPARγ deficiency in B cells decreases germinal center B cells and plasma cell development, as well as the levels of circulating Ag-specific Abs during a primary challenge. Inability to generate germinal center B cells and plasma cells is correlated to decreased MHC class II expression and decreased Bcl-6 and Blimp-1 levels. Furthermore, B-PPARγ-deficient mice have an impaired memory response, characterized by low titers of Ag-specific Abs and low numbers of Ag-experienced, Ab-secreting cells. However, B-PPARγ-deficient mice have no differences in B cell population distribution within primary or secondary lymphoid organs during development. This is the first report, to our knowledge, to show that, under physiological conditions, PPARγ expression in B cells is required for an efficient B cell-mediated immune response as it regulates B cell differentiation and Ab production.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies / genetics
  • Antibodies / immunology*
  • Antibody Formation / physiology*
  • Antibody Specificity / physiology*
  • Cell Differentiation / genetics
  • Cell Differentiation / immunology*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / immunology
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Organ Specificity
  • PPAR gamma / genetics
  • PPAR gamma / immunology*
  • Plasma Cells / cytology
  • Plasma Cells / immunology*
  • Positive Regulatory Domain I-Binding Factor 1
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-6
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / immunology

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • Bcl6 protein, mouse
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • PPAR gamma
  • Prdm1 protein, mouse
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-6
  • Transcription Factors
  • Positive Regulatory Domain I-Binding Factor 1