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Primary B cells essentially lack constitutive NF-kappa B activity
Y Yedidia1, Y Ben-Neriah, S Jung
1The Lautenberg Center for General and Tumor Immunology, The Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel.
European Journal of Immunology
|March 4, 1998
Summary
Primary resting B cells lack nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) activity, challenging the view that this transcription factor is essential for mature B cell function. This suggests NF-kappaB acts as a signal mediator rather than maintaining unique B cell activities.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Mature B cells were previously thought to possess constitutive nuclear NF-kappaB activity, distinguishing them from other cell types.
- This constitutive activity was considered essential for maintaining unique B cell transcriptional programs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the cell-autonomous activity of NF-kappaB in primary resting B cells.
- To re-evaluate the role of NF-kappaB in B cell biology and development.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of primary resting B cells.
- Comparison with splenic non-B cells and activated B cells.
Main Results:
- Primary resting B cells lack cell-autonomous NF-kappaB activity.
- This finding contrasts with the established view based on B cell line analyses.
- NF-kappaB activity in B cells appears to be a mediator of activation and stress signals, similar to other cell types.
Conclusions:
- The absence of constitutive NF-kappaB activity in mature B cells does not preclude its role in B cell development.
- The findings do not support the hypothesis that NF-kappaB is essential for maintaining unique B cell transcriptional activities.
- NF-kappaB's function in B cells is primarily as a mediator of external signals.