Development of B lymphocytes from lymphoid committed and uncommitted progenitors

Loss of Bim allows precursor B cell survival but not precursor B cell differentiation in the absence of interleukin 7

Interleukin (IL)-7 is a stromal cell-derived cytokine required for the survival, proliferation, and differentiation of B cell precursors. Members of the Bcl-2 family of proteins are known to have profound effects on lymphocyte survival, but not lymphocyte differentiation. To distinguish the relative dependence on IL-7 of B cell precursor survival versus B cell differentiation, the combined effects of lack of IL-7 and lack of the proapoptotic Bcl-2 relative, Bim, were studied. Bim is expressed to varying degrees in all B cell precursors and B cells. Lack of Bim compensated for lack of IL-7 in the survival of pro-, pre-, and immature B cells; however, lack of Bim did not substitute for the requirement for IL-7 in B cell precursor differentiation or B cell precursor proliferation. Precursor B cell survival is more dependent on sufficient levels of IL-7 than precursor B cell differentiation because the number of B cells and their precursors were reduced by half in mice heterozygous for IL-7 expression, but were restored to normal numbers in mice also lacking Bim. Hence, Bim and IL-7 work together to control the survival of B cell precursors and the number of B cells that exist in animals.

Molecular cloning and biological characterization of a novel murine lymphoid growth factor

Using a bioassay consisting of the proliferation of a murine B cell line, a cDNA of a gene whose product supports the growth of that cell line was isolated from a thymic stromal cell line. This factor, termed thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), is a protein of 140 amino acids. The gene encoding TSLP was mapped to murine chromosome 18. Purified recombinant TSLP supported the growth of pre-B cell colonies in vitro, but had no myelopoietic activity. TSLP had comitogenic activity for fetal thymocytes, but was not as potent as interleukin 7 in lobe submersion cultures. Injection of TSLP into neonatal mice induced the expansion of B220(+)BP-1(+) pre-B cells.

Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor as an autocrine survival factor for mature normal and malignant B lymphocytes

The role of GM-CSF in B cell (patho)physiology is unclear. Although B cells can respond to GM-CSF, there is controversy concerning the extent to which various resting and activated B cell types can themselves produce this cytokine, and the possibility that it can function in an autocrine fashion has not previously been considered. The aim of the present study was to address these issues using hairy cells (HCs) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells, two intrinsically activated mature malignant B cell types (with activation being more uniform and more pronounced in HCs). Normal B cells were used for comparison. Using a number of techniques, we demonstrated the constitutive production of GM-CSF by all three cell types and showed that the cytokine was biologically active. GM-CSF mRNA and protein were increased after cell activation by PMA, and constitutive production of the cytokine was highest in HCs, suggesting that the level of GM-CSF production is influenced by cell activation. Because GM-CSF is known to be antiapoptotic for myeloid cells, we used blocking anti-GM-CSF Abs to examine the contribution of autocrinely produced cytokine to cell survival. The Abs produced marked reduction in the in vitro survival of HCs, chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells, and normal B cells by promoting apoptosis. Taken together, these findings suggest that, in combination with other known rescue factors, autocrinely produced GM-CSF may contribute to normal and malignant B cell survival in vivo.

A DNA damage and stress inducible G protein-coupled receptor blocks cells in G2/M

Cell cycle progression is monitored by highly coordinated checkpoint machinery, which is activated to induce cell cycle arrest until defects like DNA damage are corrected. We have isolated an anti-proliferative cell cycle regulator named G2A (for G2 accumulation), which is predominantly expressed in immature T and B lymphocyte progenitors and is a member of the seven membrane-spanning G protein-coupled receptor family. G2A overexpression attenuates the transformation potential of BCR-ABL and other oncogenes, and leads to accumulation of cells at G2/M independently of p53 and c-Abl. G2A can be induced in lymphocytes and to a lesser extent in nonlymphocyte cell lines or tissues by multiple stimuli including different classes of DNA-damaging agents and serves as a response to damage and cellular stimulation which functions to slow cell cycle progression.

Natural killer and T cells of innate and adaptive immunity: lymphoid compartments with different requirements for common gamma chain-dependent cytokines

A group of cytokines, including interleukin-2, -4, -7, -9 and -15, are related through the usage of a shared receptor subunit, the common cytokine receptor gamma chain, gamma c. gamma c-dependent cytokines critically affect the development and maintenance of the lymphoid system. This review will highlight our current knowledge on the gamma c-dependent cytokine network and on the non-redundant roles that these cytokines play in the development and homeostasis of T and natural killer cells involved in innate and adaptive immunity.

Stromal Cell-Independent Maturation of IL-7-Responsive Pro-B Cells

The proliferation, survival, and differentiation of B cell progenitors in primary hematopoietic tissues depends on extracellular signals produced by stromal cells within the microenvironment. IL-7 is a stromal-derived growth factor that plays a crucial role in B lineage development. We have shown that in the presence of IL-7, pro-B cells proliferate and differentiate to a stage in which they are responsive to stromal cells and LPS, leading to terminally differentiated IgM-secreting plasma cells. In this report, we examine in detail the role of stromal cells in the transition from the IL-7-responsive pro-B cell stage to the mature LPS-responsive B cell stage. We demonstrate that this transition fails to occur, even in the presence of stromal cells and LPS, if constant exposure to IL-7 is maintained. The transition from the large pro-B cell stage to the small cμ+ pre-B cell stage occurs independent of stromal cells. Moreover, the “stromal cell-dependent” maturation that occurs subsequent to the expression of surface IgM leading to responsiveness to B cell mitogens can also be accomplished in the absence of stromal cells if pre-B cells are cultured in proximity to each other or at high cell concentrations. Together these results suggest that stromal cells mediate B cell differentiation by providing the necessary growth requirements (i.e., IL-7) to sustain the development of pre-B cells. The progeny of these pre-B cells can then differentiate through as yet unidentified homotypic interactions, leading to the production of LPS-responsive B cells.

Bidirectional Effect of Interleukin-10 on Early Murine B-Cell Development: Stimulation of flt3-Ligand Plus Interleukin-7–Dependent Generation of CD19− ProB Cells From Uncommitted Bone Marrow Progenitor Cells and Growth Inhibition of CD19+ ProB Cells

B-cell commitment and early development from multipotent hematopoietic progenitor cells has until recently been considered to be dependent on direct interaction with stromal cells. We recently showed that the flt3 ligand (FL) has a unique ability to interact with interleukin-7 (IL-7) to directly and selectively promote B-cell development from murine bone marrow progenitor cells with a combined myeloid and lymphoid potential. Here we report that whereas IL-10 alone has no ability to stimulate growth of primitive (Lin−Sca-1+c-kit+) bone marrow progenitor cells, it potently enhances FL + IL-7–induced proliferation (sevenfold). This enhanced proliferation results from recruitment of progenitors unresponsive to FL + IL-7 alone, as well as from increased growth of individual clones, resulting in a 7,000-fold cellular expansion over 12 days. Single cell cultures and delayed addition studies suggested that the stimulatory effect of IL-10 was directly mediated on the progenitor cells. The cells generated in response to FL + IL-7 + IL-10 appeared to be almost exclusively proB cells, as shown by their expression of B220, CD24, CD43, and lack of expression of cμ, myeloid, erythroid, and T-cell surface antigens. Although IL-10 also enhanced kit ligand (KL) + IL-7–induced proliferation of Lin−Sca-1+c-kit+ progenitor cells, the resulting cells were predominantly myeloid progeny. Accordingly, FL + IL-7 + IL-10 was 100-fold more efficient in stimulating production of proB cells than KL + IL-7 + IL-10. In contrast to its ability to stimulate the earliest phase of proB cell formation and proliferation, IL-10 inhibited growth of proB cells generated in response to FL + IL-7. Analysis of CD19 expression on cells generated in FL + IL-7 + IL-10 showed that almost all cells generated under these conditions lacked expression of CD19, in contrast to cells generated in the absence of IL-10, which were predominantly CD19+. Replating of sorted CD19+ and CD19− proB cells in FL + IL-7 or FL + IL-7 + IL-10 showed that IL-10 efficiently blocked growth of CD19+, but not CD19− cells. Both CD19− and CD19+ cells expressed λ5 and VpreB , shown to be specific for B-cell progenitors. In addition, sorted CD19− cells generated CD19+ cells in response to FL + IL-7. Thus, IL-10 has a dual regulatory effect on early B-cell development from primitive murine bone marrow progenitor cells in that it enhances FL + IL-7–induced proB-cell formation and growth before acquisition of CD19 expression, whereas growth of CD19+ proB cells is inhibited.

Bidirectional Effect of Interleukin-10 on Early Murine B-Cell Development: Stimulation of flt3-Ligand Plus Interleukin-7–Dependent Generation of CD19− ProB Cells From Uncommitted Bone Marrow Progenitor Cells and Growth Inhibition of CD19+ ProB Cells

B-cell commitment and early development from multipotent hematopoietic progenitor cells has until recently been considered to be dependent on direct interaction with stromal cells. We recently showed that the flt3 ligand (FL) has a unique ability to interact with interleukin-7 (IL-7) to directly and selectively promote B-cell development from murine bone marrow progenitor cells with a combined myeloid and lymphoid potential. Here we report that whereas IL-10 alone has no ability to stimulate growth of primitive (Lin−Sca-1+c-kit+) bone marrow progenitor cells, it potently enhances FL + IL-7–induced proliferation (sevenfold). This enhanced proliferation results from recruitment of progenitors unresponsive to FL + IL-7 alone, as well as from increased growth of individual clones, resulting in a 7,000-fold cellular expansion over 12 days. Single cell cultures and delayed addition studies suggested that the stimulatory effect of IL-10 was directly mediated on the progenitor cells. The cells generated in response to FL + IL-7 + IL-10 appeared to be almost exclusively proB cells, as shown by their expression of B220, CD24, CD43, and lack of expression of cμ, myeloid, erythroid, and T-cell surface antigens. Although IL-10 also enhanced kit ligand (KL) + IL-7–induced proliferation of Lin−Sca-1+c-kit+ progenitor cells, the resulting cells were predominantly myeloid progeny. Accordingly, FL + IL-7 + IL-10 was 100-fold more efficient in stimulating production of proB cells than KL + IL-7 + IL-10. In contrast to its ability to stimulate the earliest phase of proB cell formation and proliferation, IL-10 inhibited growth of proB cells generated in response to FL + IL-7. Analysis of CD19 expression on cells generated in FL + IL-7 + IL-10 showed that almost all cells generated under these conditions lacked expression of CD19, in contrast to cells generated in the absence of IL-10, which were predominantly CD19+. Replating of sorted CD19+ and CD19− proB cells in FL + IL-7 or FL + IL-7 + IL-10 showed that IL-10 efficiently blocked growth of CD19+, but not CD19− cells. Both CD19− and CD19+ cells expressed λ5 and VpreB , shown to be specific for B-cell progenitors. In addition, sorted CD19− cells generated CD19+ cells in response to FL + IL-7. Thus, IL-10 has a dual regulatory effect on early B-cell development from primitive murine bone marrow progenitor cells in that it enhances FL + IL-7–induced proB-cell formation and growth before acquisition of CD19 expression, whereas growth of CD19+ proB cells is inhibited.

In vitro tracking of IL-7 responsiveness and gene expression during commitment of bipotent B-cell/macrophage progenitors

BACKGROUND

The development of B lymphocytes from multipotent hematopoietic stem cells occurs through a series of intermediate cell types with increasingly restricted developmental potential. Despite intensive investigation, the underlying basis for commitment to a given lineage or the restriction in developmental potential of multipotent cells is unknown. To gain insight into this process we have developed an in vitro system that tracks a bipotent progenitor, which has the capacity to give rise to both B lymphocytes and macrophages, as it makes the transition to a B-lineage-committed precursor. The development of mature B lymphocytes from bipotent progenitors is dependent on interleukin 7 (IL-7), a pre-B-cell growth factor, in addition to other stromal-cell-derived factors such as IL-11 and mast cell growth factor (MGF). IL-7 acts on pre-B lymphocytes, but the stage of differentiation at which B-lineage cells become responsive to this factor, and its potential role in lineage commitment have not been investigated thoroughly. Here, we examine the requirements for IL-7 during the development of B lymphocytes from bipotent progenitors. Furthermore, we define onset of B-lineage-associated gene expression during the development of committed B-lineage cells under defined culture conditions.

RESULTS

We demonstrate that, under our experimental conditions, bipotent progenitors commit to differentiation through either the B or macrophage lineages within the first 3 days of culture. Cells that require IL-7 for survival first develop on day 3 of culture; however, commitment to the B lineage occurs at the same frequency in the presence or absence of this factor. After day 3 of culture, IL-7 is required both for the proliferation and survival of committed B-lineage progenitors and for the expression of several B-cell-associated genes, such as lambda5, VpreB, mb-1 and Rag1.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results demonstrate that the growth factor combination of IL-11 and MGF provides sufficient support for bipotent progenitors to commit to either the B or the macrophage lineage. Single-cell cloning assays revealed that IL-7 does not influence the decision to commit to the B lineage, despite the observation that the bipotent cells potentially respond to IL-7, as indicated by an increase in cell number, prior to the commitment event. Furthermore, the addition of IL-7 to cells developing along the B-cell pathway promotes the expression of mRNA transcripts which encode several B-cell-specific genes.

Flt3 ligand supports the differentiation of early B cell progenitors in the presence of interleukin-11 and interleukin-7

B cell development is influenced by interactions between B cell progenitors and stromal cells. The precise mechanisms by which these interactions regulate B cell differentiation are currently unknown. Flt3 ligand (FL) is a growth factor which stimulates the proliferation of stem cells and early progenitors. Mice deficient for the FLT3 receptor exhibit severe reductions in early B lymphoid progenitors. We have previously described a clonal assay in vitro which allows us to follow the entire B cell differentiation pathway from uncommitted progenitors to mature, immunoglobulin-secreting plasma cells. The growth factor combination of interleukin (IL)-11, mast cell growth factor (MGF) and IL-7 was shown to maintain the differentiation of these hematopoietic precursors into B cell progenitors capable of giving rise to functionally mature B cells in secondary cultures. Here, we show that FL in combination with IL-11 and IL-7 is sufficient to support the differentiation of uncommitted progenitors from day 10 yolk sac (AA4.1+) or day 12 fetal liver (AA4.1+ B220- Mac-1- Sca-1+) into the B lineage. The frequency of B cell progenitors obtained in these conditions was similar, if not better, than the frequency of B cell precursors that arose when cultured in IL-11+MGF+IL-7. Furthermore, the growth factor combination of IL-11+FL+ IL-7 was able to maintain the potential of bipotent precursors giving rise to both the B and myeloid lineages in secondary cultures. We also show that FL synergizes with IL-7 in the proliferation of committed B220+ pro-B cells and may contribute to the maintenance of an earlier pro-B cell population. Together, these results show that FL is important in supporting the differentiation and proliferation of early B cell progenitors in vitro.

Murine natural killer cell differentiation: past, present, and future

Natural killer cells are bone marrow-derived lymphocytes capable of lysing a variety of target cells without prior exposure. While the biological activities and function of mature NK cells have been extensively investigated, the differentiation of NK cells from primitive hematopoietic stem cells is poorly understood. Recently, we have reported on the identification of a highly enriched bone marrow population capable of repopulating recipient mice with mature NK cells. In this review, we will summarize our findings and those of others in an attempt to clarify the current status of murine natural killer cell differentiation.

Characterization of thymic stromal-derived lymphopoietin (TSLP) in murine B cell development in vitro

B cell development is dependent on both direct interactions with stromal cells and their secreted cytokines. The precise mechanisms by which these interactions regulate B cell differentiation are currently unknown. We report here that a novel growth factor thymic stromal-derived lymphopoietin (TSLP) can replace the activity of interleukin-7 (IL-7) in supporting B cell development in vitro. TSLP was found to promote the proliferation and differentiation of committed B220+ B cell progenitors from day 15 fetal liver. Phenotypic analysis of these cells revealed that they are at the pro-B cell stage of differentiation and express cell surface markers characteristic of pro-B cells cultured in IL-7. TSLP can replace the activity of IL-7 in supporting the progression of B lymphocytes from uncommitted bipotential precursors. In the absence of either TSLP or IL-7, the progeny of cells that give rise to mature B lymphocytes fail to develop from these bipotential precursors. Moreover, TSLP can substitute for IL-7 in supporting the sustained proliferative response exhibited by B cell progenitors from CBA/N mice. Together these results show that TSLP can replace the requirement for IL-7 during in vitro B cell development.

Impaired proliferation of peripheral B cells and indication of autoimmune disease in lyn-deficient mice

The Src family protein-tyrosine kinase Lyn associates physically with the BCR and has been suggested to play an important role in BCR-mediated signaling. Studies with lyn-/- mice showed that the number of B cells decreased by half in their peripheral tissues. In addition, these B cells do not respond normally to a number of stimuli, including BCR cross-linking and CD40 ligand. Induction of tyrosine phosphorylation on a variety of cellular proteins, such as Vav, Cbl, and HS1, upon BCR cross-linking was also abolished in these B cells. Despite the impaired BCR-mediated signaling, concentrations of IgM and IgA in sera were remarkably elevated, and production of autoantibodies was detected in lyn-/- mice. Histological study showed splenomegaly and enlargement of lymph nodes that became evident with age in the mutant mice. The spleen contained significant number of plasma cells as well as unusual lymphoblast-like cells carrying Mac1 antigen and cytoplasmic IgM. These cells spontaneously secreted a large amount of IgM in vitro. Finally, significant number of lyn-/- mice show glomerulonephritis, an indication of autoimmune disease. From these data, we conclude that Lyn plays a role in signal transduction for not only clonal expansion and terminal differentiation of peripheral B cells but also elimination of autoreactive B cells.

In-vitro models of stroma-dependent lymphopoiesis

The differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells into lymphocytes can be replicated ex vivo under the inductive influence of the stromal cells that frame the bone marrow and thymus. We summarize hereafter the development of culture systems where lymphopoiesis-supporting cell compartments are maintained in either their normal three-dimensional arrangement, in organotypic culture, or as culture dish-adherent monolayers and review the recent and current uses of those in-vitro models to investigate T- and B-cell differentiation in mouse and man.

In-vitro models of B-lineage commitment

The development of mature B lymphocytes from multipotent progenitors follows a pathway of differentiation marked by a progressive restriction in lineage options. The requirements for progression through the B lineage developmental pathway have been investigated intensively and a number of critical components of the differentiation process have been identified. However, the genetic basis for lineage determination remains unresolved. Recently, a number of in-vitro assays have been established which support the development of committed B cell progenitors from multipotent cells. These assays have provided a novel system in which the process of B lineage commitment can be followed and manipulated. In this review we present a model of B-lineage progression from multipotent progenitors to committed B-cell progenitors and discuss potential mediators of the commitment process.

Inversions produced during V(D)J rearrangement at IgH, the immunoglobulin heavy-chain locus

Diversity in immunoglobulin antigen receptors is generated in part by V(D)J recombination. In this process, different combinations of gene elements are joined in various configurations. Products of V(D)J recombination are coding joints, signal joints, and hybrid junctions, which are generated by deletion or inversion. To determine their role in the generation of diversity, we have examined two sorts of recombination products, coding joints and hybrid junctions, that have formed by inversion at the mouse immunoglobulin heavy-chain locus. We developed a PCR assay for quantification and characterization of inverted rearrangements of DH and JH gene elements. In primary cells from adult mice, inverted DJH rearrangements are detectable but they are rare. There were approximately 1,100 to 2,200 inverted DJH coding joints and inverted DJH hybrid junctions in the marrow of one adult mouse femur. On day 16 of gestation, inverted DJH rearrangements are more abundant. There are approximately 20,000 inverted DJH coding joints and inverted DJH hybrid junctions per day 16 fetal liver. In fetal liver cells, the number of inverted DJH rearrangements remains relatively constant from day 14 to day 16 of gestation. Inverted DJH rearrangements to JH4, the most 3' JH element, are more frequently detected than inverted DJH rearrangements to other JH elements. We compare the frequencies of inverted DJH rearrangements to previously determined frequencies of uninverted DJH rearrangements (DJH rearrangements formed by deletion). We suggest that inverted DJH rearrangements are influenced by V(D)J recombination mechanistic constraints and cellular selection.

Murine B cell development: commitment and progression from multipotential progenitors to mature B lymphocytes

B lymphocytes, the cellular source of antibody, are critical components of the immune response. They develop from multipotential stem cells, progressively acquiring the traits that allow them to function as mature B lymphocytes. This developmental program is dependent on appropriate interactions with the surrounding environment. These interactions, mediated by cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions, provide the growth and differentiation signals that promote progression along the developmental pathway. This chapter addresses the properties of developing B lineage cells and the nature of the environmental signals that support B lineage progression.

B-lineage differentiation in normal and transformed cells and the microenvironment that supports it

B-cell differentiation is a complex process mediated through interactions with the microenvironment of the bone marrow and fetal liver. These interactions alter patterns of gene expression and allow precursors to develop into Ig+ B cells. Recent work has shown that some of these events can be triggered in B-cell precursors transformed by Abelson virus. Other advances have refined our understanding of the role of cytokines, hormones and stromal cells in the differentiation process.