title: Regulation of Ku expression in normal murine B cells by stimuli that promote switch recombination.
abstract: DNA-dependent protein kinase, the catalytic subunit associated with the Ku heterodimer (Ku70/Ku86), has been implicated in switch recombination. Therefore, we tested whether certain stimuli known to promote switch recombination may act in part by inducing Ku expression. We find that resting B cells contain relatively low levels of nuclear Ku, but that Ku expression can be up-regulated by culturing the cells with two switch stimuli. First, IL-4 and CD40 engagement in combination, but neither of these stimuli acting alone, strongly induce Ku expression; Ku levels rise within 24 h, about 2 days before switch recombination is detected. Second, dextran-conjugated anti-IgD Abs strongly induce Ku expression, which is variably enhanced by IL-5, but not by IL-4. Our data suggest that switch recombination may be regulated, at least in part, through changes in the nuclear expression of Ku.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland 20814, USA.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zelazowski
authors.forename: E E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Max
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Kehry
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Snapper
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D034961:Antigens, Nuclear; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D004265:DNA Helicases; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D017578:Immunoglobulin Class Switching; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000494:pharmacology; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000494:pharmacology; D000072200:Ku Autoantigen; D051379:Mice; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D034961:Antigens, Nuclear; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D015848:Interleukin-5; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D015847:Interleukin-4; D004265:DNA Helicases; C106893:XRCC5 protein, human; C000606512:Xrcc5 protein, mouse; C000606509:Xrcc6 protein, human; C000606510:Xrcc6 protein, mouse; D000072200:Ku Autoantigen