BILL-cadherin/cadherin-17 contributes to the survival of memory B cells

PLoS One. 2015 Jan 22;10(1):e0117566. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0117566. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

Memory B cells (MBCs) and long-lived plasma cells (LLPCs) are responsible for immunological "memory", which can last for many years. The long-term survival niche for LLPCs in the bone marrow is well characterized; however, the corresponding niche for MBCs is unclear. BILL-cadherin/cadherin-17 (CDH17) is the only member of the cadherin superfamily that is expressed on mouse B lymphocytes in a spatiotemporally regulated manner. Here, we show that half of all MBCs regain expression of CDH17 during the later stage of development. The maintenance of high affinity antigen-specific serum antibodies was impaired in CDH17(-/-) mice and the number of antigen-specific MBCs was reduced as compared to wild-type mice (WT). Also, specific responses to secondary antigens were ablated in CDH17(-/-) mice, whereas primary antibody responses were the same as those in WT mice. Cell cycle analysis revealed a decline in the proliferation of CDH17(-) MBCs as compared to CDH17(+) MBCs. In addition, we identified a subpopulation of splenic stromal cells, MAdCAM-1(+) blood endothelial cells (BEC), which was CDH17(+). Taken together, these results suggest that CDH17 plays a role in the long-term survival of MBCs, presumably via an "MBC niche" comprising, at least in part, BEC in the spleen.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibody Formation / genetics
  • Antibody Formation / immunology
  • Antibody Specificity / genetics
  • Antibody Specificity / immunology
  • B-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Cadherins / genetics
  • Cadherins / immunology*
  • Cell Cycle / genetics
  • Cell Cycle / immunology*
  • Cell Survival / genetics
  • Cell Survival / immunology
  • Gene Expression Regulation / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation / immunology
  • Immunologic Memory / physiology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout

Substances

  • Cadherins
  • Cdh17 protein, mouse

Grants and funding

This work was supported by grants from the Health Science Foundation in the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, Japan (to K.O., KHC1015, KHC1218; to M.A., H26-Shinkoujitsuyouka-Ippan-017). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.