title: B cell superstimulatory influenza virus (H2-subtype) induces B cell proliferation by a PKC-activating, Ca(2+)-independent mechanism.
abstract: The influenza virus hemagglutinin glycoprotein (HA) induces a vigorous B cell proliferation and Ig-synthesis by an unknown activation mechanism, which is susceptible to the inhibitory effects of anti-Ig and anti-class II mAbs. To gain further insight into the activation mode of this T cell-independent, B cell "superstimulatory" virus, we analyzed the sensitivity of H2-subtype virus-mediated B cell activation to the inhibitory effects of various signal transduction-blocking agents and compared it to the well characterized anti-mu-mediated and the LPS-employed pathway. Cyclic-AMP agonists (cAMP-analogues, pentoxifylline, cholera toxin, and forskolin) blocked HA-mediated activation of B cells only at concentrations at least 50-fold higher than required for blocking of anti-mu-induced activation. However, HA-treatment failed to induce an increase in intracellular cAMP levels in responding B cells. The B cell response to HA was highly resistant to calcineurin-inhibitory cyclosporin-A treatment and did not result in a measurable Ca2+ influx. Similarly, HA failed to induce an increase in tyrosine phosphorylations, including phosphorylation of phospholipase C gamma 2. HA-activated B cells showed an increase in membrane-associated protein kinase C activity, and depletion of protein kinase C by pretreatment of B cells with phorbol esters inhibited a subsequent activation by HA. Collectively, our results provide a new example of B cell stimulation by multivalent type-2 Ags, which seems to be mediated by a phosphatidylinositol- and Ca(2+)-independent signaling pathway.
authors.affiliation: INSERM U.283, Cochin Hospital, René Descartes University, Paris, France.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Rott
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Charreire
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Semichon
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bismuth
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cash
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002772:Cholera Toxin / Q000494:pharmacology; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D019267:Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus; D006389:Hemagglutinins, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010703:Phorbol Esters / Q000494:pharmacology; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000378:metabolism; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D015290:Second Messenger Systems; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D019267:Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus; D006389:Hemagglutinins, Viral; D010703:Phorbol Esters; D016572:Cyclosporine; D002772:Cholera Toxin; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D002118:Calcium