title: Human plasma cells express granzyme B.
abstract: While studying the plasma cell (PC) compartment in human tonsils, we identified that immunoglobulin kappa or lambda chain-expressing PCs are the main cells expressing granzyme B (GrzB). In vitro studies revealed that activated B cells differentiated into GrzB-expressing PCs when co-cultured with macrophages and follicular helper T cells. This effect could be reproduced on combined stimulation of IL-15 (produced by macrophages) and IL-21 (produced by T follicular helper cells) in a STAT3-dependent manner. Whereas IL-21 triggers the transcription of mRNA of GrzB, IL-15 synergizes the translation of GrzB proteins. The precise role of GrzB in PC biology remains to be understood and studies in mice will not help as their PCs do not express GrzB.
authors.affiliation: Baylor Institute for Immunology Research, Dallas, TX, USA; Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Glycart, Schlieren, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Priya
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Narayanan
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Clayton
authors.forename: Yoichiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ohne
authors.forename: Peiqing
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Marie-Cecile
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Herve
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Balderas
authors.forename: Capucine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Picard
authors.forename: Jean-Laurent
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Casanova
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Gorvel
authors.forename: Sangkon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Virginia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pascual
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Banchereau
mesh_terms: D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D053804:Granzymes / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007145:Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains / Q000378:metabolism; D007146:Immunoglobulin lambda-Chains / Q000378:metabolism; D019409:Interleukin-15 / Q000276:immunology*; D007378:Interleukins / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology*; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000166:cytology; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000201:enzymology*; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*; D015533:Transcriptional Activation; D000098546:Interleukin-21
chemical_list: D007145:Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains; D007146:Immunoglobulin lambda-Chains; D019409:Interleukin-15; D007378:Interleukins; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; D053804:Granzymes; D000098546:Interleukin-21
keywords: B cells; Granzyme B (GrzB); Plasma cells