title: Analysis of an ethylnitrosourea-generated mouse mutation defines a cell intrinsic role of nuclear factor kappaB2 in regulating circulating B cell numbers.
abstract: The number of circulating follicular B lymphocytes is normally kept within a precise range despite their dispersion through the body and daily overproduction of precursors in the bone marrow. By establishing a genome wide recessive mutation screen in C57BL/6 mice to identify critical components of immune system regulation, we identified a mutant strain with selective deficiency in recirculating B cells but not immature or peritoneal B1 cells. Analysis of mixed bone marrow chimeras established that the mutation affects a cell autonomous process within B cells that is required for their accumulation after emigrating to peripheral lymphoid organs. The defect is caused by a point mutation in the gene encoding transcription factor nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB2, terminating the encoded protein within the DNA-binding domain. These findings establish the feasibility of analyzing immune regulation by genome wide mutant screens and demonstrates an intrinsic requirement for NF-kappaB2 in regulating circulating follicular B cell numbers.
authors.affiliation: Australian Cancer Research Foundation Genetics Laboratory and Medical Genome Centre, John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia.
authors.forename: Lisa A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Miosge
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Blasioli
authors.forename: Mathieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Blery
authors.forename: Christopher C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Goodnow
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D005038:Ethylnitrosourea / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D052003:NF-kappa B p52 Subunit; D017354:Point Mutation
chemical_list: D016328:NF-kappa B; D052003:NF-kappa B p52 Subunit; D005038:Ethylnitrosourea