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Updated: Aug 11, 2026

Recombinant Retroviral Production and Infection of B Cells
Published on: February 18, 2011
Compensation between Vav-1 and Vav-2 in B cell development and antigen receptor signaling
K Tedford1, L Nitschke, I Girkontaite
1Abteilung Physiologische Chemie, Universität Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, D-89069 Ulm, Germany.
Abstract:
Vav-1 and Vav-2 are closely related Dbl-homology GTP exchange factors (GEFs) for Rho GTPases. Mutation of Vav-1 disrupts T cell development and T cell antigen receptor-induced activation, but has comparatively little effect on B cells. We found that combined deletion of both Vav-1 and Vav-2 in mice resulted in a marked reduction in mature B lymphocyte numbers. Vav-1(-/-)Vav-2(-/-) B cells were unresponsive to B cell antigen receptor (BCR)-driven proliferation in vitro and to thymus-independent antigen in vivo. BCR-stimulated intracellular calcium mobilization was greatly impaired in Vav-1(-/-)Vav-2(-/-) B cells. These findings establish a role for Vav-2 in BCR calcium signaling and reveal that the Vav family of GEFs is critical to B cell development and function.
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