The RNase III enzyme Dicer is essential for germinal center B-cell formation

Blood. 2012 Jan 19;119(3):767-76. doi: 10.1182/blood-2011-05-355412. Epub 2011 Nov 23.

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short noncoding RNAs that regulate gene expression and are important for pre-B and follicular B lymphopoiesis as demonstrated, respectively, by mb-1-Cre- and cd19-Cre-mediated deletion of Dicer, the RNase III enzyme critical for generating mature miRNAs. To explore the role of miRNAs in B-cell terminal differentiation, we use Aicda-Cre to specifically delete Dicer in activated B cells where activation-induced cytidine deaminase is highly expressed. We demonstrate that mutant mice fail to produce high-affinity class-switched antibodies and generate memory B and long-lived plasma cells on immunization with a T cell-dependent antigen. More importantly, germinal center (GC) B-cell formation is drastically compromised in the absence of Dicer, as a result of defects in cell proliferation and survival. Dicer-deficient GC B cells express higher levels of cell cycle inhibitor genes and proapoptotic protein Bim. Ablation of Bim could partially rescue the defect in GC B-cell formation in Dicer-deficient mice. Taken together, our data suggest that Dicer and probably miRNAs are critical for GC B-cell formation during B-cell terminal differentiation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis
  • B-Lymphocytes / cytology*
  • B-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Cell Differentiation*
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cytidine Deaminase / physiology*
  • DEAD-box RNA Helicases / physiology*
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Germinal Center / cytology*
  • Germinal Center / metabolism
  • Immunization
  • Immunologic Memory
  • Integrases / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Plasma Cells / immunology*
  • Plasma Cells / metabolism
  • RNA Editing
  • Ribonuclease III / physiology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism

Substances

  • Cre recombinase
  • Integrases
  • Dicer1 protein, mouse
  • Ribonuclease III
  • AICDA (activation-induced cytidine deaminase)
  • Cytidine Deaminase
  • DEAD-box RNA Helicases