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CD19 is essential for B cell activation by promoting B cell receptor–antigen microcluster formation in response to membrane-bound ligand

Nature Immunology volume 9, pages 63–72 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

Here we describe the spatiotemporal architecture, at high molecular resolution, of receptors and signaling molecules during the early events of mouse B cell activation. In response to membrane-bound ligand stimulation, antigen aggregation occurs in B cell antigen receptor (BCR) microclusters containing immunoglobulin (Ig) M and IgD that recruit the kinase Syk and transiently associate with the coreceptor CD19. Unexpectedly, CD19-deficient B cells were significantly defective in initiation of BCR-dependent signaling, accumulation of downstream effectors and cell spreading, defects that culminated in reduced microcluster formation. Hence, we have defined the dynamics of assembly of the main constituents of the BCR 'signalosome' and revealed an essential role for CD19, independent of the costimulatory molecule CD21, in amplifying early B cell activation events in response to membrane-bound ligand stimulation.

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Figure 1: Antigen and BCR aggregation occurs in microclusters.
Figure 2: Signaling-deficient B cells form fewer antigen microclusters.
Figure 3: Signaling activity in antigen microclusters.
Figure 4: Role of CD45 in modulating B cell activation by membrane-bound antigen.
Figure 5: Transient recruitment of CD19 to antigen microclusters.
Figure 6: CD19 is essential for B cell activation by membrane-bound antigen.
Figure 7: CD19 amplifies signaling through the BCR.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the members of Lymphocyte Interaction Laboratory for critical reading of the manuscript. Funded by Cancer Research UK. We thank M. Reth (Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology) for kindly providing GFP-Syk constructs.

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Author notes

  1. David Depoil and Sebastian Fleire: These authors contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lymphocyte Interaction Laboratory, London Research Institute, Cancer Research UK, 44 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, WC2A 3PX, UK

    David Depoil, Sebastian Fleire, Bebhinn L Treanor, Michele Weber, Naomi E Harwood & Facundo D Batista

  2. Institute of Human Genetics, International Centre for Life, Central Parkway, Newcastle University, NE1 3BZ, UK

    Kevin L Marchbank

  3. Division of Immune Cell Biology, National Institute for Medical Research, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London, NW7 1AA, UK

    Victor L J Tybulewicz

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Contributions

D.D., S.F., B.L.T. and M.W. performed the experimental work and analysis; K.L.M. and V.L.J.T. provided CD21-KO and CD45-KO mice, respectively; and D.D., B.L.T., M.W., N.E.H. and F.D.B. prepared the manuscript. F.D.B devised the project.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Facundo D Batista.

Supplementary information

Supplementary Text and Figures

Supplementary Figures 1–6 (PDF 592 kb)

Supplementary Video 1

Free diffusion of Alexa-633-streptavidin in bilayers. Dynamics of planar lipid bilayers containing Alexa-633-streptavidin visualized using TIRFM. Images were acquired every 35 ms and rebuilt at 16 frame/s. 2D tracks of individual puncta of streptavidin are indicated. (MOV 2372 kb)

Supplementary Video 2

Free diffusion of BCR in unstimulated B cells. HEL-Tg B cells labelled with Cy3-conjugated anti-IgM (red in merge) and Alex488-conjugated anti-IgD (green in merge) Fabs were settled onto ICAM-1 containing bilayers in the presence of Mn2+ and visualized using TIRFM. Images were acquired after 10 min every 5 s and rebuilt at 15 frames/s. (MOV 963 kb)

Supplementary Video 3

Antigen accumulation into BCR-Ag-microclusters following stimulation with membrane-bound HEL. HEL-Tg B cells were settled on HEL-containing bilayers and visualized using TIRFM. Images were acquired every 15 s and rebuilt at 4 frame/s for the first 3 s and 10 frames/s for the rest of the movie. Black arrows indicate antigen clusters pushed out to the periphery during spreading. (MOV 239 kb)

Supplementary Video 4

Antigen accumulation into BCR-Ag-microclusters following stimulation with membrane-bound anti-IgM. WT B cells were settled on anti-IgM-containing bilayers and visualized using TIRFM. Images were acquired every 3 s and rebuilt at 16 frames/s. (MOV 680 kb)

Supplementary Video 5

Colocalization of IgD with BCR-Ag-microclusters. A20-IgD-HEL cells labelled with Alexa488-conjugated anti-IgD Fab were settled on HEL-containing bilayers and visualized using TIRFM. Images were acquired every 5 s and rebuilt at 15 frames/s. (MOV 2488 kb)

Supplementary Video 6

Colocalization of GFP-Syk with BCR-Ag-microclusters. A20-IgD-HEL cells expressing GFP-Syk were settled onto HEL-containing bilayers and visualized using TIRFM. Images were acquired every 4 s and rebuilt at 16 frames/s. This movie shows the onset of contraction after 2 min of interaction. (MOV 1529 kb)

Supplementary Video 7

CD19 is recruited to BCR-Ag-microclusters. H2K-Tg B cells labelled with Alexa555-conjugated anti-CD19 Fab (green in merge) were settled on p31-containing (red in merge) bilayers, and visualized using TIRFM. Images were acquired every 2 s and rebuilt at 15 frames/s. This movie shows a representative cell at the onset of contraction, 2 min after contact with the bilayer. Arrows indicate microclusters containing both IgM and CD19. (MOV 2222 kb)

Supplementary Video 8

CD19 containing BCR-Ag-microclusters recirculate within the pSMAC. HEL-Tg B cells labelled with Cy5-conjugated anti-CD19 Fabs (rainbow color scale) were incubated on HEL-containing bilayers and visualized using TIRFM. Images were acquired every 100 ms and rebuilt at 10 frames/s. This movie displays 2D tracking of CD19, 15 min after contact with the bilayer. The dotted line indicates the site of antigen aggregation. (MOV 4328 kb)

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Depoil, D., Fleire, S., Treanor, B. et al. CD19 is essential for B cell activation by promoting B cell receptor–antigen microcluster formation in response to membrane-bound ligand. Nat Immunol 9, 63–72 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/ni1547

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