Themis2 lowers the threshold for B cell activation during positive selection

Nat Immunol. 2017 Feb;18(2):205-213. doi: 10.1038/ni.3642. Epub 2016 Dec 19.

Abstract

The positive and negative selection of lymphocytes by antigen is central to adaptive immunity and self-tolerance, yet how this is determined by different antigens is not completely understood. We found that thymocyte-selection-associated family member 2 (Themis2) increased the positive selection of B1 cells and germinal center B cells by self and foreign antigens. Themis2 lowered the threshold for B-cell activation by low-avidity, but not high-avidity, antigens. Themis2 constitutively bound the adaptor protein Grb2, src-kinase Lyn and signal transducer phospholipase γ2 (PLC-γ2), and increased activation of PLC-γ2 and its downstream pathways following B cell receptor stimulation. Our findings identify a unique function for Themis2 in differential signaling and provide insight into how B cells discriminate between antigens of different quantity and quality.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptive Immunity
  • Animals
  • B-Lymphocytes / physiology*
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell Lineage
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Clonal Selection, Antigen-Mediated*
  • GRB2 Adaptor Protein / metabolism
  • Germinal Center / immunology*
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / genetics
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism*
  • Lymphocyte Activation*
  • Mice
  • Mice, 129 Strain
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Phospholipase C gamma / metabolism
  • Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / metabolism
  • Self Tolerance
  • src-Family Kinases / metabolism

Substances

  • GRB2 Adaptor Protein
  • Grb2 protein, mouse
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell
  • Themis2 protein, mouse
  • lyn protein-tyrosine kinase
  • src-Family Kinases
  • Phospholipase C gamma