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Transcription Factor Gfi1 Restricts B Cell-Mediated Autoimmunity¹

Chozhavendan Rathinam^2,*, Hans Lassmann, Michael Mengel and Christoph Klein^3,*

^* Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and Institute for Pathology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany; and Center for Brain Research, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

The zinc finger transcription factor Gfi1 (growth factor-independent-1) has been involved in various cellular differentiation processes. Gfi1 acts as a transcriptional repressor and splicing control factor upon binding to cognate binding sites in regulatory elements of its target genes. In this study, we report that Gfi1-deficient mice develop autoimmunity. Gfi1-deficient peripheral B cells show a hyperproliferative phenotype leading to expansion of plasma cells, increased levels of nuclear autoantibodies, and Ig deposition in brain and kidneys. Dysregulation of multiple transcription factors and cell cycle control elements may contribute to B cell-dependent autoimmunity. Gfi1 thus emerges as a novel master regulator restricting autoimmunity.

The costs of publication of this article were defrayed in part by the payment of page charges. This article must therefore be hereby marked advertisement in accordance with 18 U.S.C. Section 1734 solely to indicate this fact.

¹ This work was supported by grants from Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Clinical Research Group 110-2 and SFB738) and the Else Kröner-Fresenius Stiftung.

C.R. designed, performed, and analyzed all experiments with the exception of pathological studies and wrote the manuscript. H.L. was responsible for neuropathological studies and their interpretation. M.M. performed and interpreted pathological studies of kidneys and lymph nodes. C.K. directed the investigations and wrote the manuscript.

² Current address: Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, 300 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06520.

³ Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Christoph Klein, Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Children’s Hospital, Hannover Medical School, Carl Neuberg Strasse1, D-30625 Hannover, Germany. E-mail address: klein.christoph{at}mh-hannover.de

⁴ The online version of this article contains supplemental material.

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The JI 2008 181: 5811-5812. [Full Text]  

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