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Ligand-independent signaling during early avian B cell development

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Abstract

Surface immunoglobulin (sIg) expression has been conserved as a critical checkpoint in B lymphocyte development. In the chicken embryo, only sIg+ B cells are selectively expanded in the bursa of Fabricius, a primary lymphoid organ unique to the avian species. We have previously demonstrated that an interaction between the antigen-binding sites of sIg and a specific bursal ligand(s) is not required to regulate this developmental checkpoint. Rather, the requirement for sIg expression can be attributed to the surface expression of the Igα/β heterodimer associated with sIg. More specifically, ligand-independent signaling downstream of the Igα cytoplasmic domain drives all bursal stages of B cell development during embryogenesis. We discuss here a site-directed mutagenesis approach to identify the critical membrane proximal events involved in ligand-independent signaling during B cell development.

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  1. Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, M5S 1A8, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    Kelly A. Pike & Michael J. H. Ratcliffe

  2. Sunnybrook and Women's College Health Sciences Center, 2075 Bayview Avenue, M4N 3M5, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    Kelly A. Pike & Michael J. H. Ratcliffe

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  1. Kelly A. Pike
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Pike, K.A., Ratcliffe, M.J.H. Ligand-independent signaling during early avian B cell development. Immunol Res 35, 103–115 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1385/IR:35:1:103

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