A novel transgenic mouse strain expressing PKCβII demonstrates expansion of B1 and marginal zone B cell populations

Azar, A. A., Michie, A. M. , Tarafdar, A., Malik, N. , Menon, G. K., Till, K. J., Vlatković, N. and Slipsky, J. R. (2020) A novel transgenic mouse strain expressing PKCβII demonstrates expansion of B1 and marginal zone B cell populations. Scientific Reports, 10, 13156. (doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-70191-y) (PMID:32753714) (PMCID:PMC7403146)

Abstract

Protein kinase Cβ (PKCβ) expressed in mammalian cells as two splice variants, PKCβI and PKCβII, functions in the B cell receptor (BCR) signaling pathway and contributes to B cell development. We investigated the relative role of PKCβII in B cells by generating transgenic mice where expression of the transgene is directed to these cells using the Eµ promoter (Eµ-PKCβIItg). Our findings demonstrate that homozygous Eµ-PKCβIItg mice displayed a shift from IgD+IgMdim toward IgDdimIgM+ B cell populations in spleen, peritoneum and peripheral blood. Closer examination of these tissues revealed respective expansion of marginal zone (MZ)-like B cells (IgD+IgM+CD43negCD21+CD24+), increased populations of B-1 cells (B220+IgDdimIgM+CD43+CD24+CD5+), and higher numbers of immature B cells (IgDdimIgMdimCD21neg) at the expense of mature B cells (IgD+IgM+CD21+). Therefore, the overexpression of PKCβII, which is a phenotypic feature of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia cells, can skew B cell development in mice, most likely as a result of a regulatory influence on BCR signaling.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: JRS was in receipt of LLR funding (Ref 13013). AMM was in receipt of LLR funding (Ref. 13012).
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Malik, Miss Natasha and Tarafdar, Ms Anuradha and Michie, Professor Alison
• Authors: Azar, A. A., Michie, A. M., Tarafdar, A., Malik, N., Menon, G. K., Till, K. J., Vlatković, N., and Slipsky, J. R.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cancer Sciences; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity
• Journal Name: Scientific Reports
• Publisher: Nature Research
• ISSN: 2045-2322
• ISSN (Online): 2045-2322
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2020 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Scientific Reports 10: 13156
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License