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Retinoic Acid Signaling in B Cells Is Required for the Generation of an Effective T-Independent Immune Response
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Retinoic Acid Signaling in B Cells Is Required for the Generation of an Effective T-Independent Immune Response

Ellen Marks, Carla Ortiz, Eirini Pantazi, Charlotte S Bailey, Graham M Lord, Thomas J Waldschmidt, Randolph J Noelle and Raul Elgueta
Frontiers in immunology, Vol.7, pp.643-643
2016
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2016.00643
PMCID: PMC5179524
PMID: 28066447
url
https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2016.00643View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Retinoic acid (RA) plays an important role in the balance of inflammation and tolerance in T cells. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that RA facilitates IgA isotype switching in B cells in vivo . However, it is unclear whether RA has a direct effect on T-independent B cell responses in vivo . To address this question, we generated a mouse model where RA signaling is specifically silenced in the B cell lineage. This was achieved through the overexpression of a dominant negative receptor α for RA (dnRARα) in the B cell lineage. In this model, we found a dramatic reduction in marginal zone (MZ) B cells and accumulation of transitional 2 B cells in the spleen. We also observed a reduction in B1 B cells in the peritoneum with a defect in the T-independent B cell response against 2,4,6-trinitrophenyl. This was not a result of inhibited development of B cells in the bone marrow, but likely the result of both defective expression of S1P 1 in MZ B cells and a defect in the development of MZ and B1 B cells. This suggests that RARα expression in B cells is important for B cell frequency in the MZ and peritoneum, which is crucial for the generation of T-independent humoral responses.
B cell peritoneum retinoic acid Immunology immunoglobulins marginal zone

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