Remarkably, the majority of nTregs and NKT cells in the thymus expressed WASP (84% 12% and 83% 11%, respectively,
Remarkably, the majority of nTregs and NKT cells in the thymus expressed WASP (84% 12% and 83% 11%, respectively, .005, Figure 1A). levels of natural IgM antibodies. Our findings reveal that WASP regulates both Forodesine hydrochloride development and function of hematopoietic cells. We demonstrate that WASP deficiency leads to an aberrant MZ that may impact responses to blood-borne pathogens and peripheral B-cell tolerance. Introduction The Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) is usually a severe immunodeficiency characterized by a complex phenotype and an increased mortality resulting from hemorrhage, severe infections, and malignancy. Defective expression of WAS protein (WASP) prospects to multiple abnormalities in different hematopoietic cells in patients with WAS and WASP-deficient mice.1 Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) represents an effective treatment strategy for severe WAS patients2,3; however, the degree of donor engraftment in various hematopoietic compartments is an important determination of successful treatment.4 In severe cases, where suitable donors are unavailable, gene therapy is being considered as an alternative treatment for WAS.5,6 However, the role of WASP in the development of hematopoietic cells remains largely unknown. A detailed analysis of the possible advantage for WASP-expressing cells over WASP-negative cells in a competitive setting should provide insight into which lineages are more probable to be corrected by gene therapy The splenic marginal zone (MZ) contains specialized B cells and highly phagocytic MZ macrophages (MZMs) that create a first line of defense to blood-borne pathogens.7 Reduced quantity of MZ B cells of WAS patients and WASP-deficient mice may contribute to the weak immune response to bacteria.8,9 The natural MZ B-cell repertoire has a low self-reactivity that enables them to rapidly respond to blood-borne antigens.10 MZ B-cell development from transitional-2-marginal zone precursor (T2-MZP) cells has been suggested to depend on Notch2-activated gene transcription and on B-cell receptor (BCR) signaling strength.11,12 Furthermore, Forodesine hydrochloride MZ B-cell positioning is critically dependent on interactions with ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 and responsiveness to sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P).13,14 MZ B-cell retention may involve signals from MZMs because depletion of MZMs leads to a severe reduction of MZ B cells.15 Accordingly, MZ B-cell development, positioning, and function depend on both B-cell intrinsic activity and on the presence of MZMs. By analyzing WASP-expressing cells in the competitive setting of double-deficient mice were generated by breeding uptake in the spleen, 25 g of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled organisms (Invitrogen) were injected intravenously and spleens examined by immunohistochemistry 30 minutes after injection. Table 1 Rabbit Polyclonal to SLC30A4 Markers used to define HPC and lineage cells was calculated by subtracting the calibrator gene HPRT value from the test sample value and thus represented the relative quantity of the target mRNA normalized to Forodesine hydrochloride HPRT mRNA. The mRNA content of test sample in WT follicular B cells was defined as 1 arbitrary unit. TNP-Ficoll immunization For TI-2 antigen responses, age- and sex-matched C57BL/6 mice were injected intravenously with 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (TNP)-Ficoll (Biosearch Technologies, Novato CA). Uptake of TNP-Ficoll in the MZ and by MZ B cells was examined 30 minutes and 3 hours after injection, and anti-TNP IgM and IgG3 antibody titers were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay at day 7. The samples were run in triplicates and corrected for background binding. Statistics Data are expressed as mean plus or minus SD where indicated. Statistical significance between groups was assessed by 2-tailed Student test and analysis of variance. Differences were considered significant when was less than .05. Results Selective advantage for WASP-expressing cells in = not significant, Figure 1A). The percentage of WASP+ cells was significantly higher among single-positive (SP) Forodesine hydrochloride CD4 and CD8 cells (CD4+SP: 65% 15%; CD8+SP: 64% 16%, .01, Figure 1A). Remarkably, the majority of nTregs and NKT cells in the thymus expressed WASP (84% 12% and 83% 11%, respectively, .005, Figure 1A). An even greater selective advantage for WASP-expressing SP CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, nTregs and NKT cells was Forodesine hydrochloride observed in the spleen (CD4+: 72% 9%; CD8+: 74% 9%; nTregs: 93% 4%; NKT: 86% 8%, respectively, .005, Figure 1A). In keeping with a strong advantage for WASP-expressing nTregs (as we previously have published)21 and NKT cells in .005; and spleen WT 131 3 103 and .005). Open in a separate window Figure 1 Selective advantage of WASP-expressing cells in values use a test to compare percentage of WASP-expressing cells in the T-cell, B-cell (right panel), and myeloid lineages to that of HPCs and for the B-cell lineage (left panel) to that of.