|
|
||||||||
Cutting Edge |
Department of Biochemistry, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706
| Abstract |
|---|
|
|
|---|
| Introduction |
|---|
|
|
|---|
Our previous genetic analyses placed Bcmd on chromosome
(Chr) 15, between D15 Mit259 and D15 Mit118, an
empirical distance of
0.8 centimorgans (cM) (6, 7). The
human Chr 22 syntenic region (8) contains the Bcl-2
interacting killer (Bik) gene that encodes a death-inducing
BCL-2 protein family member (9, 10). In human B104 B
lymphoma cells, surface IgM ligation increased Bik
transcription and triggered apoptosis (11). These
two reports suggested that a Bik homolog involved in
excessive negative selection might be a Bcmd candidate gene.
Investigating this hypothesis, we mapped the putative Bik
homolog, Bik-like killer (Blk), to Chr 15,
demonstrated its overexpression in A/WySnJ transitional B cells, and
showed that these transitional B cells have a cell-autonomous defect
leading to excessive apoptosis. These results are discussed in
the context of a second suggested Bcmd candidate gene,
provisionally designated Baffr (12).
| Materials and Methods |
|---|
|
|
|---|
The production and simple sequence-length polymorphism (SSLP) genotyping of (A/WySnJ x CAST/Ei)F1 x A/WySnJ mice for Chr 15 markers was described (7). The mice were housed in our pathogen-free mouse colony; protocols were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of the University of Wisconsin (Madison, WI).
Nucleic acid isolation and PCR
The DNA isolation, PCR, and electrophoresis were described (6). The expressed region of Blk was cloned and sequenced, and transcript abundance studies were performed with the PCR primers 5'-AGCTCAGCTTGGCAGAACAC-3' and 5'-GGGGACAGTCAGAAAACACC-3'. The PCR primers for the intronic, Blk-associated SSLP were 5'-TGTAGGGACTTTCCAGTGAG-3' and 5'-CCATTGAAACAGGAGACACAC-3'. The Bcl-xL transcript abundance studies were performed with the PCR primers 5'-TTTTTCTGAGTTACCGGCG-3' and 5'-GGGAGGTGAGAGGTGAGTGG-3'. The Bax and Bcl-2 specific primers were described (13).
RH mapping
The DNA from each T31 radiation hybrid (RH) cell line (Research Genetics, Huntsville, AL) and controls was amplified with Blk-specific PCR primers and analyzed for the unique 305-bp mouse gene product three times.
B cell enrichment, analysis, and culture
Flow-sorted splenic T1 B cells were obtained from adult mice 13 days after 500-rad irradiation (14). Splenocytes were stained following RBC lysis with biotin-goat Ab to mouse µ (Fab; Jackson ImmunoResearch Laboratories, West Grove, PA), and PE Ab to CD23 (clone B3B4), FITC Ab to CD21 (clone 7G6) and Cy5PE-streptavidin, all from BD PharMingen (San Diego, CA). Nonviable, 4',6'-diamidino-2-phenylindole-stained cells (Molecular Probes, Eugene, OR) were excluded. A FACSVantage (BD Biosciences, Mountain View, CA) sorted the T1 B cells (IgMhigh/CD23-/CD21-/low) to >95% purity.
Enriched transitional B cells were obtained from the spleens of 1-wk old mice as described (15). A/J B cells, labeled with CellTracker Orange and A/WySnJ B cells labeled with CellTracker Green (Molecular Probes) were mixed in equal proportions and cultured. After culture, cells were analyzed for CellTracker dyes and propidium iodide (PI) exclusion. Some cell cultures also included splenic adherent cells (SAC). Splenocytes (107 cells in 1.0 ml/well; 48-well plates) were cultured overnight and nonadherent cells were removed before the purified B cells were added.
For apoptosis assays, RBC-depleted splenocytes (viability >95%) from neonatal mice were cultured in triplicate (2 x 106 cells in 1.0 ml/well; 48-well plates) in IMDM supplemented with 5% FBS, 50 µM 2-ME, 2 mM glutamine, 100 U/ml penicillin, and 100 µg/ml streptomycin. Samples were analyzed by flow cytometry for apoptotic B cells after B220 staining, ethanol fixation, and PI staining.
Data analysis
The interval mapping data were analyzed with Map Manager QT software (16) (http://mapmgr.roswellpark.org/mapmgr.html). The map positions in centimorgans were obtained from the 2000 Chromosome Committee Reports, Mouse Genome Database, Mouse Genome Informatics, The Jackson Laboratory (Bar Harbor, ME) (17) (http://www.informatics.jax.org/ccr/).
| Results |
|---|
|
|
|---|
To find the Chr 15 syntenic region, we searched the annotated human Chr 22 sequence (http://www.sanger.ac.uk/HGP/Chr22) for loci mapped in the human and the mouse (8). Srebf2 has been mapped in both species (8, 17) and is very close to D15 Mit118, the closest known SSLP to Bcmd (6). Near Srebf2 on human Chr 22 is the Bik locus (8, 9). The mouse Blk gene is believed to be the Bik homolog, because mouse BLK protein is 43% homologous to human BIK protein (18), but Blk has not been mapped.
We mapped Blk using the T31 RH mapping panel (Research
Genetics). The mouse Blk gene retention pattern was analyzed
by PCR and entered into a server at the Whitehead Center for
Genome Research (Cambridge, MA) (http://www-genome.wi.mit.edu). The
RHMAPPER software (Whitehead Center for Genome Research)
determined that the Blk gene cosegregated with the Chr 15
markers D15 Mit198 and D15 Mit33 at 48.6 cM on
the Mouse Genome Database map (Fig. 1
A). This position is very
near to D15 Mit118, within the interval defined by our most
current analysis (7).
|
To confirm the RH mapping data, we sought a
Blk-associated polymorphism between strains A/WySnJ and
CAST/Ei that could be used to genotype our panel of Chr 15 recombinant
(A/WySnJ x CAST/Ei)F1 x A/WySnJ mice
(7). To this end we examined a Blk intron,
anticipating polymorphisms between A/WySnJ and CAST/Ei due to less
sequence conservation. To determine the genomic organization of
Blk, basic local alignment search tool searches were
done by comparing the Blk mRNA sequence to the publicly
available High Throughput Genomic Sequence database
(www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genome/seq/MmHome.html). This search yielded a
Chr 15 mouse genomic clone (National Center for Biotechnology
Information LocusID AL583887) encompassing the Blk
coding region. Comparing the mRNA sequence (18) to the
genomic sequence, and following the gt/ag rule for intron/exon
boundaries, yielded the gene structure (Fig. 1
, B and
C). The mouse Blk gene structure was similar to
the human Bik gene, with five exons and four introns of
similar size and functional organization. Inspection revealed a
putative SSLP in intron 2. When genomic A/WySnJ and CAST/Ei DNA were
amplified with PCR primer pairs designed to bracket this repeat, the
two strains yielded distinct band sizes (CAST/Ei = 150 bp and
A/WySnJ = 180 bp).
SSLP mapping of the Blk gene using Chr 15 recombinant strains
For fine resolution mapping of Bcmd, we assembled a
panel of 17 (A/WySnJ x CAST/Ei)F1 x
A/WySnJ N2 progeny with recombinations in the interval between
D15 Mit144 and D15 Mit118, and measured splenic B
cell phenotypes (7). The DNA from this recombinant panel
was examined for the Blk-associated intronic SSLP. The
genotyping results placed the Blk gene within the gray area
shown in Fig. 2
, consistent with the RH
mapping data.
|
We next sought evidence for a Blk coding sequence
mutation. The cDNA from A/J and A/WySnJ B cells was PCR-amplified,
cloned, and sequenced (data not shown). There were no sequence
differences between these strains and the published Blk
coding sequence (18). Therefore, we investigated the level
of Blk transcript expression in sorted T1 B lymphocytes
through the use of RT-PCR. Serially diluted cDNA was examined for
expression of Blk and a second proapoptotic gene,
Bax, as well as the two antiapoptotic genes that interact
with Blk, Bcl-2, and
Bcl-xL (18) (Fig. 3
). Blk transcripts were
3-fold more abundant in the A/WySnJ T1 B cells than in the A/J B
cells. This was in contrast to Bax and Bcl-2,
which were not different, and Bcl-xL,
which was increased
2-fold.
|
Increased Blk gene transcription in A/WySnJ
transitional B cells suggested that these cells may have a defect
leading to premature apoptosis. To test this hypothesis,
splenocytes from neonatal mice were cultured and, at various times,
collected and analyzed. At 1 wk of age the majority of splenic B cells
are transitional B cells (19). Analysis of
B220+ cells with subdiploid amounts of DNA
revealed a rapid B cell apoptosis rate for A/WySnJ compared
with A/J cells (Fig. 4
A). We
next isolated the transitional B cells from 1-wk old mice as described
(15). These B cells were cultured with or without SAC,
recovered 1 day later, and analyzed by flow cytometry. Cell viability
was determined by enumeration of B cells that excluded PI and appeared
in the live lymphocyte scatter gate (Fig. 4
B). The A/J B
cells had more than twice the viability of the A/WySnJ B cells, in very
good agreement with the apoptosis data. Adding A/J or A/WySnJ
SAC had no effect on B cell survival for either A strain. Neither A/J
nor A/WySnJ transitional B cells expressed Fas, ruling out Fas-mediated
apoptosis as a mechanism for premature cell death (data not
shown).
|
| Discussion |
|---|
|
|
|---|
3-fold compared with A/J and showed a
cell-autonomous defect leading to premature apoptosis,
consistent with increased expression of a proapoptotic gene. The
molecular basis for this expression polymorphism is not yet known. The Bik gene encodes a death-inducing member of the BCL-2 protein family (10). The BCL-2 protein family members share one or more of the BCL-2 homology (BH) domains, BH1, BH2, BH3, and BH4 (20). The Bcl-2 prosurvival gene was discovered at the characteristic chromosomal translocation breakpoint t(14;18) of follicular B cell lymphoma (21). The Bax pro-death gene was discovered due to interactions between Bcl-2-associated X protein (BAX) and BCL-2 (22). The BCL-2:BAX ratio determined a cells susceptibility to apoptosis, leading to the concept that the ratio of proapoptotic and antiapoptotic BCL-2 family proteins serves as a checkpoint or rheostat regulating apoptosis (20).
Bik was discovered due to interactions between BIK and prosurvival BCL-2 family members (10). Bik promoted cell death in transient transfection assays, and Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL suppressed this function. Thus, BIK is a proapoptotic protein and lacks all BH domains except BH3. The BH3-only proteins (BIK, BAD, BID, and HRK) are particularly potent death agonists (20). The mouse homolog of Bik, Blk, was discovered by searching GenBank for sequences encoding conserved BH3 domains (18). The BLK BH3 domain interacts directly with BCL-XL protein (18). In transfection experiments, Blk was a more potent death effector than Bik or Bax, and the apoptotic cell percentage doubled with each doubling of the Blk to Bcl-xL ratio, indicating that this ratio is a very sensitive apoptosis rheostat (18). In the present experiments, Blk was overexpressed 3-fold and Bcl-xL was overexpressed 2-fold, so the Blk:Bcl-xL ratio was higher in the A/WySnJ T1 B cells than in the control cells.
Little is known about regulation of Blk transcription
(18). Jiang and Clark (11) showed that
surface IgM but not surface IgD ligation initiated Bik
transcription and apoptosis in B104 B lymphoma cells, a model
for B cell Ag receptor (BCR)-mediated negative selection. We reported
that excessive apoptosis occurs at the T1
T2 transition of B
cell maturation in A/WySnJ mice (5). The T1 B cells are
IgM+IgD- and retain their
sensitivity to negative selection via a BCR-mediated apoptotic signal,
whereas the T2 B cells are
IgM+IgD+ and apparently
insensitive to negative selection (23). Thus, our evidence
is consistent with a model wherein the A/WySnJ B cells have difficulty
making the T1
T2 transition because they express inappropriately high
levels of a BCR-induced death gene, and excessive apoptosis is
the result.
Intriguingly, Thompson et al. (12) very recently
identified a new receptor for B cell activating factor belonging to the
TNF family (BAFF), and showed that the gene encoding this receptor,
provisionally termed Baffr, maps to human Chr 22q13.1, which
is syntenic to the mouse Chr 15 Bcmd region. Also, they
showed by Southern blotting that A/WySnJ and A/J genomic DNA are
polymorphic at this locus, and that the A/WySnJ Baffr
transcript was shortened and exon 3 was not intact. The exact nature of
the Baffr mutation in A/WySnJ is not known, and whether the
A/WySnJ BAFF receptor (BAFF-R) retains any signaling function is also
unclear. Nevertheless, their studies together with ours and those of
Jiang and Clark (11) suggest a very interesting model,
wherein membrane IgM and BAFF-R may compete for control of
Blk transcription and thus the maturation or
apoptosis fate of the transitional B cells. The IgM may enhance
Blk transcription and BAFF-R may inhibit it. The outcome of
the competition might determine peripheral B cell homeostasis. The
A/WySnJ T1 B cells may be unable to inhibit Blk
transcription due to a BAFF-R defect, explaining their premature
apoptosis phenotype. It is also interesting to note that
Baffr and Bik are only
1.3 Mbp apart in the
human genome, raising the possibility that chromatin remodeling during
peripheral B cell development may lead to coordinated expression of
these two genes, which may play critical roles in the life or death
fate of the transitional B cell. Additional experiments will no doubt
test these hypotheses and provide a detailed model of this most
interesting B cell developmental transition.
| Acknowledgments |
|---|
| Footnotes |
|---|
2 Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Colleen E. Hayes, Department of Biochemistry, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Wisconsin, 433 Babcock Drive, Madison, WI 53706. E-mail address: hayes{at}biochem.wisc.edu ![]()
3 Abbreviations used in this paper: Bcmd, B cell maturation defect; BAFF, B cell activating factor belonging to the TNF family; BAFF-R, BAFF receptor; BAX, Bcl-2-associated X protein; BCR, B cell Ag receptor; BH, Bcl-2 homology; Bik, Bcl-2 interacting killer; Blk, Bik-like killer; Chr, chromosome; cM, centimorgan; PI, propidium iodide; RH, radiation hybrid; SAC, splenic adherent cell; SSLP, simple sequence-length polymorphism; T1, transitional type-1; T2, transitional type-2. ![]()
Received for publication July 19, 2001. Accepted for publication October 1, 2001.
| References |
|---|
|
|
|---|
This article has been cited by other articles:
![]() |
E. Di Carlo, T. D'Antuono, P. Pompa, R. Giuliani, S. Rosini, L. Stuppia, P. Musiani, and C. Sorrentino The Lack of Epithelial Interleukin-7 and BAFF/BLyS Gene Expression in Prostate Cancer as a Possible Mechanism of Tumor Escape from Immunosurveillance Clin. Cancer Res., May 1, 2009; 15(9): 2979 - 2987. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
E. C. Bridgeford, J. G. Fox, P. R. Nambiar, and A. B. Rogers Agammaglobulinemia and Staphylococcus aureus Botryomycosis in a Cohort of Related Sentinel Swiss Webster Mice J. Clin. Microbiol., May 1, 2008; 46(5): 1881 - 1884. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
A. Craxton, K. E. Draves, A. Gruppi, and E. A. Clark BAFF regulates B cell survival by downregulating the BH3-only family member Bim via the ERK pathway J. Exp. Med., November 21, 2005; 202(10): 1363 - 1374. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
J. P. Mathai, M. Germain, and G. C. Shore BH3-only BIK Regulates BAX,BAK-dependent Release of Ca2+ from Endoplasmic Reticulum Stores and Mitochondrial Apoptosis during Stress-induced Cell Death J. Biol. Chem., June 24, 2005; 280(25): 23829 - 23836. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
L. Coultas, P. Bouillet, E. G. Stanley, T. C. Brodnicki, J. M. Adams, and A. Strasser Proapoptotic BH3-Only Bcl-2 Family Member Bik/Blk/Nbk Is Expressed in Hemopoietic and Endothelial Cells but Is Redundant for Their Programmed Death Mol. Cell. Biol., February 15, 2004; 24(4): 1570 - 1581. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
I. J. Amanna, J. P. Dingwall, and C. E. Hayes Enforced bcl-xL Gene Expression Restored Splenic B Lymphocyte Development in BAFF-R Mutant Mice J. Immunol., May 1, 2003; 170(9): 4593 - 4600. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |