title: Retinoic acid acts as a selective human IgA switch factor.
abstract: Retinoic acid (RA) is known to have several functions that lead to a potent mucosal IgA response. Nevertheless, its exact role in human IgA synthesis has yet to be elucidated. Thus, we investigated the role of RA in promoting IgA isotype switching in human B cells. We found that RA increased IgA production and the expression of germ-line IgA1 and IgA2 transcripts (GLTα1 and GLTα2). This induction occurred alongside an increase in the frequency of IgA1-secreting B cell clones, as assessed by limiting dilution analysis. Under the same conditions, RA did not increase IgM and IgG production. Am80, an agonist of RA receptor α (RARα), increased IgA production. In addition, RA activity was abrogated by LE540, an antagonist of RAR, suggesting that the RAR pathway is involved in RA-induced IgA production. Taken together, these results indicate that RA induces IgA isotype switching mainly through RARα in human B cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Bioscience, College of Biomedical Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 200-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Goo-Young
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Bioscience, College of Biomedical Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 200-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Young-Saeng
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 200-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jini
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 200-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jongseon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Choe
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Bioscience, College of Biomedical Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 200-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hye-Ju
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Bioscience, College of Biomedical Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 200-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong-Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Bioscience, College of Biomedical Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 200-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seong-Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Laboratory Science, College of Health Sciences, Yonsei University at Wonju, Wonju 220-710, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ki-Jong
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Rhee
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Konyang University, Daejeon 302-718, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seok-Rae
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Life and Environmental Science, Hankyong National University, Anseong 456-749, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Woan-Sub
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Bioscience, College of Biomedical Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 200-701, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: phkim@kangwon.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Pyeung-Hyeun
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D001565:Benzoates / Q000494:pharmacology; D003984:Dibenzazepines / Q000494:pharmacology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D017578:Immunoglobulin Class Switching / Q000187:drug effects*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D061251:Primary Cell Culture; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid / Q000819:agonists / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D000072482:Retinoic Acid Receptor alpha; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013764:Tetrahydronaphthalenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000494:pharmacology; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D001565:Benzoates; D003984:Dibenzazepines; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; C104183:LE 540; C000607071:RARA protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid; D000072482:Retinoic Acid Receptor alpha; D013764:Tetrahydronaphthalenes; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; C061133:tamibarotene; D014212:Tretinoin
keywords: B cell; Class switch; IgA; RARα; Retinoic acid