title: Distribution of cAMP in secondary follicles and its expression in B cell apoptosis and CD40-mediated survival.
abstract: Apoptosis occurs at a high rate among B cells in germinal centres (GCs). Isolated GC B cells undergo apoptosis spontaneously when cultured in vitro: such self-destruction can be arrested by protein kinase C-activating phorbol esters and by ligating surface CD40. This study sought to explore whether the cAMP-dependent second messenger system played a role in the regulation of GC cell apoptosis and in ligand-promoted survival. First, the distribution of cAMP in GCs was analysed by immunofluorescence staining and confocal laser scanning microscopy in situ: cytoplasmic cAMP was expressed by all cells but was most abundant in the constitutive cells of the light zones, where GC B cell apoptosis and rescue occur. Isolated GC B cells were found to express higher levels of cAMP than quiescent B lymphocytes as assessed both by a competitive binding assay and a newly developed flow cytometric method. Culturing GC B cells alone increased cAMP level, while those cells rescued with the phorbol ester phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) and anti-CD40 exhibited decreased cAMP levels. Resting B lymphocytes showed no change in cAMP level following culture alone, but a significant increase in cAMP levels when co-cultured with PMA and anti-CD40. These data suggest that given identical signals, resting B cells and GC B cells exhibit differential regulation of the cAMP-dependent second messenger system; moreover, this second messenger system appears to be involved in the regulation of apoptosis in GC B cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, University of Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Knox
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gordon
mesh_terms: D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000276:immunology*; D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000276:immunology; D019013:CD40 Antigens; D002470:Cell Survival; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000201:enzymology*; D006801:Humans; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000201:enzymology; D015290:Second Messenger Systems; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte; D019013:CD40 Antigens; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate