The effect of deleting p110delta on the phenotype and function of PTEN-deficient B cells

J Immunol. 2008 Jan 15;180(2):739-46. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.180.2.739.

Abstract

Control of the intracellular levels of phosphatidylinositol-(3, 4, 5)-trisphosphate by PI3K and phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) is essential for B cell development and differentiation. Deletion of the PI3K catalytic subunit p110delta leads to a severe reduction in B1 and marginal zone (MZ) B cells, whereas deletion of PTEN results in their expansion. We have examined the relationship between these two molecules by generating mice with a B cell-specific deletion of PTEN (PTENB) and a concurrent germline deletion of p110delta. The expanded B1 cell population of PTENB mice was reduced to normal levels in PTENB/p110delta mutant mice, indicating a critical role for the p110delta isoform in the expansion of B1 cells. However, numbers of MZ B cells in the PTENB/p110delta mutants was intermediate between wild-type and PTENB-deficient mice, suggesting an additional role for other PI3K catalytic isoforms in MZ differentiation. Furthermore, the defective class switch recombination in PTENB B cells was only partially reversed in PTENB/p110delta double mutant B cells. These results demonstrate an epistatic relationship between p110delta and PTEN. In addition, they also suggest that additional PI3K catalytic subunits contribute to B cell development and function.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Class I Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases
  • Gene Deletion
  • Immunoglobulin Class Switching
  • Lymphocyte Activation / genetics*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Mutant Strains
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • PTEN Phosphohydrolase / genetics
  • PTEN Phosphohydrolase / metabolism*
  • Phenotype
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / genetics
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Isoforms / genetics
  • Protein Isoforms / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / genetics
  • Recombination, Genetic
  • Transgenes

Substances

  • Protein Isoforms
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
  • Class I Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases
  • Pik3cd protein, mouse
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • PTEN Phosphohydrolase
  • Pten protein, mouse