The transient expression of pre-B cell receptors governs B cell development.
Only a subpopulation of relatively large pre-B cells express pre-B cell receptors (preBCR) that can be seen with very sensitive immunofluorescence methods. Inefficient assembly of the multicomponent preBCR coupled with their ligand-induced endocytosis may account for the remarkably low in vivo levels of preBCR expression. Signaling initiated via the preBCR promotes cellular proliferation and RAG-1 and RAG-2 downregulation to interrupt the immunoglobulin V(D)J gene rearrangement process. Silencing of the surrogate light chain genes, VpreB and lambda5, then terminates preBCR expression to permit cell cycle exit, recombinase gene upregulation, and VJ(L) rearrangement by small pre-B cells destined to become B cells.
Burrows
Peter D
PD
Division of Developmental and Clinical Immunology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, WTI 378, 1824 6th Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35294-3300, USA.
Stephan
Robert P
RP
Wang
Yui-Hsi
YH
Lassoued
Kaïss
K
Zhang
Zhixin
Z
Cooper
Max D
MD
D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D015322:Gene Rearrangement, B-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology; D020868:Gene Silencing / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007147:Immunoglobulin Light Chains; D054444:Immunoglobulin Light Chains, Surrogate; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D054420:Pre-B Cell Receptors; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell; D013997:Time Factors
D007147:Immunoglobulin Light Chains; D054444:Immunoglobulin Light Chains, Surrogate; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D054420:Pre-B Cell Receptors; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell