title: Modulation of B lymphocyte signalling by the B subunit of Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin.
abstract: The non-toxic B subunit of Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin (EtxB) is a potent mucosal adjuvant and immunomodulator capable of blocking autoimmune disease. These effects are linked with its ability to modulate lymphocyte populations--a feature that is dependent on binding to ubiquitously expressed cell surface receptors. Here, we demonstrate that EtxB can trigger up-regulated expression of class II MHC and CD25 on purified populations of B lymphocytes, suggesting that EtxB can directly activate biochemical signalling pathways in these cells. The nature of the intracellular signalling events was investigated. B cells cultured with EtxB, but not a non-receptor binding mutant protein, EtxB(G33D), caused the activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk) forms of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase in a process that was dependent on MAPK/Erk kinase (MEK), phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3-kinase) and protein kinase C (PKC), as determined by the use of specific inhibitors. PI3-kinase was critical not only in the activation of MAP kinase but also in the up-regulation of both class II and CD25. However, MEK inhibition only partially abrogated the EtxB-mediated up-regulation of MHC class II expression and did not affect CD25 expression--findings suggesting that additional pathways downstream of PI3-kinase are involved. A role for PKC in these processes was suggested by the finding that inhibitors of PKC completely blocked EtxB-mediated CD25 up-regulation. Thus, we have shown that receptor binding by EtxB triggers multiple signalling pathways in B cells that regulate the expression of key cell surface molecules.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Microbiology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Bristol, University Walk, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK.
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bone
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eckholdt
authors.forename: Neil A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000378:metabolism; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000276:immunology; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D005260:Female; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D000081082:Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D004768:Enterotoxins; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D000081082:Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors; C027538:heat-labile enterotoxin, E coli; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases