title: Human CD72 splicing isoform responsible for resistance to systemic lupus erythematosus regulates serum immunoglobulin level and is localized in endoplasmic reticulum.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  CD72 is an inhibitory co-receptor expressed on B cells. We previously demonstrated significant association of the polymorphism of the CD72 gene with susceptibility to human systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in individuals carrying a SLE-susceptible FCGR2B genotype (FCGR2B-232Thr/Thr). The human CD72 locus generates a splicing isoform that lacks exon 8 (CD72Δex8) as well as full-length CD72 (CD72fl), and the CD72 polymorphism regulates exon 8 skipping.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Here we demonstrated that individuals carrying the disease-protective CD72 genotype exhibit significantly lower serum immunoglobulin levels than do individuals carrying other CD72 genotypes (P < 0.05). Although expression level of CD72fl in the peripheral blood B cells was similar regardless of CD72 genotype, the protein level of CD72Δex8 was increased in individuals carrying the disease-protective CD72 genotype, suggesting a crucial role of CD72Δex8 in regulation of antibody production. By expressing these human CD72 isoforms in mouse cell lines, we further demonstrated that CD72Δex8 is accumulated in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and fails to regulate BCR signaling whereas human CD72fl is efficiently transported to the cell surface and inhibits signaling through the B cell antigen receptor (BCR), as is the case for mouse CD72.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Human CD72 polymorphism appears to regulate antibody production as well as susceptibility to SLE by regulating expression of ER-localizing CD72Δex8.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Immunology, School of Biomedical Science, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8510, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hitomi
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Adachi
authors.forename: Naoyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tsuchiya
authors.forename: Zen-Ichiro
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Honda
authors.forename: Katsushi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tokunaga
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsubata
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000235:genetics; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002460:Cell Line; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000378:metabolism*; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000097:blood; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D050505:Mutant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D019154:Protein Splicing; D021381:Protein Transport; D019076:Transgenes / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte; C064228:CD72 protein, human; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D050505:Mutant Proteins; D020033:Protein Isoforms