B-1 cell development mainly occurs via fetal and neonatal hematopoiesis and is suppressed in adult bone marrow hematopoiesis. However, little is known about the factors inhibiting B-1 cell development at the adult stage. We report that capicua (CIC) suppresses postnatal B-1a cell development and survival. CIC levels are high in B-1a cells and gradually increase in transitional B-1a (TrB-1a) cells with age. B-cell-specific Cic-null mice exhibit expansion of the B-1a cell population and a gradual increase in TrB-1a cell frequency with age but attenuated B-2 cell development. CIC deficiency enhances B cell receptor (BCR) signaling in transitional B cells and B-1a cell viability. Mechanistically, CIC-deficiency-mediated Per2 derepression upregulates Bhlhe41 levels by inhibiting CRY-mediated transcriptional repression for Bhlhe41, consequently promoting B-1a cell formation in Cic-null mice. Taken together, CIC is a key transcription factor that limits the B-1a cell population at the adult stage and balances B-1 versus B-2 cell formation.
Keywords: B cell development; B-1a; BCR signaling; BHLHE41; PER2; TrB-1a; capicua.
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