The development of functional B lymphocytes in conditional PU.1 knock-out mice.
An abundance of research has entrenched the view that the Ets domain containing transcription factor PU.1 is fundamental to the development and function of B lymphocytes. In this study, we have made use of a conditional PU.1 allele to test this notion. Complete deletion of PU.1 resulted in the loss of B cells and all other lineage-positive cells in the fetal liver and death between E18.5 and birth; however, specific deletion of PU.1 in the B lineage had no effect on B-cell development. Furthermore, deletion of PU.1 in B cells did not compromise their ability to establish and maintain an immune response. An increased level of apoptosis was observed in vitro upon B-cell receptor (BCR) cross-linking; however, this was partially rescued by interleukin-4 (IL-4). These findings suggest that PU.1 is not essential for the development of functional B lymphocytes beyond the pre-B stage.
Polli
Matthew
M
The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, 1G Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria, Australia 3050.
Dakic
Aleksandar
A
Light
Amanda
A
Wu
Li
L
Tarlinton
David M
DM
Nutt
Stephen L
SL
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology; D019070:Cell Lineage / Q000276:immunology; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000276:immunology; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000172:deficiency / Q000502:physiology*; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / Q000378:metabolism; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000172:deficiency / Q000502:physiology*; D000099232:Proto-Oncogene Protein Spi-1
D007136:Immunoglobulins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell; D015534:Trans-Activators; D000099232:Proto-Oncogene Protein Spi-1