Adaptor protein DOK3 promotes plasma cell differentiation by regulating the expression of programmed cell death 1 ligands

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2014 Aug 5;111(31):11431-6. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1400539111. Epub 2014 Jul 22.

Abstract

The adaptor Downstream-of-Kinase (DOK) 3 functions as a negative regulator and attenuates B-cell receptor-mediated calcium signaling. Although DOK3 is dispensable for early B-cell development, its role in plasma cell (PC) differentiation is unknown. Here, we show that Dok3(-/-) mice have increased populations of T follicular-helper (Tfh) and germinal center (GC) B cells upon immunization with a T-cell-dependent antigen. However, interestingly, they generate significantly fewer PCs. Bone marrow reconstitution experiments show that the PC defect is B-cell intrinsic and due to the inability of Dok3(-/-) B cells to sustain programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) ligand 1 (PDL1) and up-regulate PD-1 ligand 2 (PDL2) expressions that are critical for PC differentiation. Overexpression of PDL2 rectifies the PC differentiation defect in Dok3(-/-) B cells. We further demonstrate that calcium signaling suppresses the transcription of PD-1 ligands. Abrogation of calcium signaling in B cells by deleting BTK or PLCγ2 or inhibiting calcineurin with cyclosporine A leads to increased expression of PD-1 ligands. Thus, our study reveals DOK3 as a nonredundant regulator of PC differentiation by up-regulating PD-1 ligand expression through the attenuation of calcium signaling.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / deficiency
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Antibody Formation / immunology
  • B7-H1 Antigen / genetics*
  • B7-H1 Antigen / metabolism
  • Calcium Signaling
  • Cell Compartmentation
  • Cell Differentiation / genetics*
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Epitopes / immunology
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Germinal Center / cytology
  • Germinal Center / metabolism
  • Ligands
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Plasma Cells / cytology*
  • Plasma Cells / metabolism*
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Ligand 2 Protein / genetics*
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Ligand 2 Protein / metabolism
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / cytology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / metabolism

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • B7-H1 Antigen
  • Dok3 protein, mouse
  • Epitopes
  • Ligands
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Ligand 2 Protein
  • RNA, Messenger