Grb2 and GRAP connect the B cell antigen receptor to Erk MAP kinase activation in human B cells

Sci Rep. 2018 Mar 9;8(1):4244. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-22544-x.

Abstract

The B cell antigen receptor (BCR) employs enzymatically inactive adaptor proteins to facilitate activation of intracellular signaling pathways. In animal model systems, adaptor proteins of the growth factor receptor-bound 2 (Grb2) family have been shown to serve critical functions in lymphocytes. However, the roles of Grb2 and the Grb2-related adaptor protein (GRAP) in human B lymphocytes remain unclear. Using TALEN-mediated gene targeting, we show that in human B cells Grb2 and GRAP amplify signaling by the immunoglobulin tail tyrosine (ITT) motif of mIgE-containing BCRs and furthermore connect immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif (ITAM) signaling to activation of the Ras-controlled Erk MAP kinase pathway. In contrast to mouse B cells, BCR-induced activation of Erk in human B cells is largely independent of phospholipase C-ɣ activity and diacylglycerol-responsive members of Ras guanine nucleotide releasing proteins. Together, our results demonstrate that Grb2 family adaptors are critical regulators of ITAM and ITT signaling in naïve and IgE-switched human B cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / metabolism*
  • B-Lymphocytes / metabolism*
  • Cell Line
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / metabolism
  • GRB2 Adaptor Protein / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System*
  • Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / metabolism*
  • Type C Phospholipases / metabolism

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • GRB2 Adaptor Protein
  • GRB2 protein, human
  • Grap protein, human
  • Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases
  • Type C Phospholipases