Molecular pattern recognition in peripheral B cell tolerance: lessons from age-associated B cells.

Although central tolerance mechanisms purge self-reactive B cells during development based on BCR signal strength, mechanisms that block the differentiation of autoreactive effector and memory B cells from mature pools remain poorly understood. Prior observations implicate nucleic acid sensing TLRs in autoimmunity, and more recent findings show that TLR9 is also involved in maintaining peripheral tolerance. Studies of the immunological changes that occur during aging revealed a subset of B cells denoted Age-associated B cells which expands in settings of aging and in autoimmunity. Further studies demonstrated that TLR9 signals poise activated B cells to adopt an Age-associated B cell phenotype, but BCR-delivered TLR9 signals cause programmed cell death that, if circumvented by costimulation, allows continued differentiation to the ABC fate. Together, these observations suggest molecular pattern recognition, rather than BCR epitope specificity per se, is a fundamental mediator of tolerogenic outcomes in the peripheral B cell activation.

TACI expression and plasma cell differentiation are impaired in the absence of functional IκBNS.

Impaired classical NF-κB pathway signaling causes reduced antibody responses to T-independent (TI) antigens. We investigated the potential reasons for defective TI responses in mice lacking the atypical inhibitory kappa B (IκB) protein of the NF-κB pathway, IκBNS. Analyses of the plasma cell compartment in vitro and in vivo after challenge with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) showed significant decreases in the frequencies of plasma cells in the absence of IκBNS. In vitro activation of B cells via the B cell receptor or via Toll-like receptor 4 revealed that early activation events were unaffected in IκBNS-deficient B cells, while proliferation was reduced compared to in similarly stimulated wildtype (wt) B cells. IκBNS-deficient B cells also displayed impaired upregulation of the transmembrane activator and calcium modulator cyclophilin ligand interactor (TACI), which is essential for TI responses, and decreased sensitivity to TACI ligands upon stimulation. Furthermore, IκBNS-deficient B cells, in contrast to wt B cells, displayed altered expression of IRF4, Blimp-1 and Pax5 upon LPS-induced differentiation, indicating impaired transcriptional regulation of plasma cell generation.

Age-Associated B Cells Express a Diverse Repertoire of VH and Vκ Genes with Somatic Hypermutation.

The origin and nature of age-associated B cells (ABCs) in mice are poorly understood. In this article, we show that their emergence required MHC class II and CD40/CD40L interactions. Young donor B cells were adoptively transferred into congenic recipients and allowed to remain for 1 mo in the absence of external Ag. B cells expressing the T-bet transcription factor, a marker for ABCs, were generated after multiple cell divisions from C57BL/6 donors but not from MHC class II- or CD40-deficient donors. Furthermore, old CD154 (CD40L)-deficient mice did not accrue ABCs, confirming that they arise primarily through T-dependent interactions. To determine what Igs ABCs express, we sequenced VH and Vκ rearranged genes from unimmunized 22-mo-old C57BL/6 mice and showed that they had a heterogeneous repertoire, which was comparable to that seen in old follicular and marginal zone B cell subsets. However, in contrast to the follicular and marginal zone cells, ABCs displayed significant somatic hypermutation. The mutation frequency was lower than found in germinal center cells after deliberate immunization, suggesting that ABCs have undergone mild stimulation from endogenous Ags over time. These observations show that quiescent ABCs are Ag-experienced cells that accumulate during T cell-dependent responses to diverse Ags during the life of an individual.

APRIL mediates peritoneal B-1 cell homeostasis.

BLyS (B lymphocyte stimulator) family cytokines and receptors play key roles in B-2 cell maturation and survival, but their importance for B-1 cells remains less clear. Here we use knockout mice to show that APRIL (A proliferation-inducing ligand), but not BLyS, plays a role in peritoneal B-1 cell maintenance. APRIL likely exerts its effects on peritoneal B-1 cells through binding to HSPG (heparan sulfate proteoglycans) rather than to the TACI (transmembrane activator and cyclophilin ligand interactor) receptor. Finally, we show that peritoneal macrophages express high levels of APRIL message, and are a likely local source of the cytokine in this anatomic locale.

New roles for the BLyS/BAFF family in antigen-experienced B cell niches.

BLyS family members govern selection and survival of cells in the pre-immune B cell compartment, and emerging evidence suggests similar roles in antigen-experienced B cell pools. We review the features of this family, with particular emphasis on recent findings of how BLyS influences affinity maturation in germinal centers, which lie at the intersection of the pre-immune and antigen-experienced B cell compartments. We propose a model whereby tolerogenic selection at the transitional stage and affinity maturation in the germinal center employ the same BLyS driven mechanism.

Memory B cells form in aged mice despite impaired affinity maturation and germinal center kinetics.

We examined whether age alters the emergence of high-affinity germinal center B (GCB) cells and switched memory B cells (swBmem) during a primary immune response to a thymus-dependent antigen, using a novel flow cytometric assay to distinguish relative BCR affinity. In young mice, high-affinity B cells predominate in the GCB pool and comprise a smaller proportion of the nascent swBmem pool two weeks after immunization. In aged mice, we observe significant reductions of high-affinity clones among GCB cells, but not nascent swBmem cells. The defect in GC affinity maturation was not overcome by providing excess carrier-specific T cells from young mice, as these cells still displayed compromised effector TFH differentiation in the aged animals. Our results suggest that B cells in aged animals have a reduced ability to prompt effector TFH differentiation, leading to a compromised GC response that results in reduced generation of high-affinity GCB and plasma cells; despite normal production of early swBmem cells.

Local BLyS production by T follicular cells mediates retention of high affinity B cells during affinity maturation.

We have assessed the role of B lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS) and its receptors in the germinal center (GC) reaction and affinity maturation. Despite ample BLyS retention on B cells in follicular (FO) regions, the GC microenvironment lacks substantial BLyS. This reflects IL-21-mediated down-regulation of the BLyS receptor TACI (transmembrane activator and calcium modulator and cyclophilin ligand interactor) on GC B cells, thus limiting their capacity for BLyS binding and retention. Within the GC, FO helper T cells (TFH cells) provide a local source of BLyS. Whereas T cell-derived BLyS is dispensable for normal GC cellularity and somatic hypermutation, it is required for the efficient selection of high affinity GC B cell clones. These findings suggest that during affinity maturation, high affinity clones rely on TFH-derived BLyS for their persistence.

A comparative review of aging and B cell function in mice and humans.

Immune system function declines with age. Here we review and compare age-associated changes in murine and human B cell pools and humoral immune responses. We summarize changes in B cell generation and homeostasis, as well as notable changes at the subcellular level; then discuss how these changes help to explain alterations in immune responses across the adult lifespan of the animal. In each section we compare and contrast findings in the mouse, arguably the best animal model of the aging immune system, with current understanding of B cell immunity in humans.

Roles for BLyS family members in meeting the distinct homeostatic demands of innate and adaptive B cells.

B-1 and B-2 B cell populations have different progenitors, receptor diversity, anatomic location, and functions - suggesting vastly differing requisites for homeostatic regulation. There is evidence that the B lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS) family of cytokines and receptors, key factors in the homeostatic regulation of B-2 B cell subsets, is also a major player in the B-1 compartment. Here we review the development and differentiation of these two primary B cell lineages and their immune functions. We discuss evidence that BLyS or a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) availability in different anatomic sites, coupled with signature BLyS receptor expression patterns on different B cell subsets, may be important for homeostatic regulation of B-1 as well as B-2 populations. Finally, we extend our working model of B cell homeostasis to integrate B-1s.

B cell maintenance and function in aging.

In this review we discuss the changes that occur in the B lymphocyte compartment of mice and humans as they progress to old age, focusing on recent advances in this important area of research. Primary areas considered include increased morbidity and mortality in the elderly following infection, and decreased responsiveness to vaccines that evoke primary humoral immune responses, as well as those that evoke responses by memory B cells generated following vaccination and natural infection earlier in life. We then consider some of the mechanisms that may underlie these observed declines in humoral immune function. This includes a discussion of alterations in B cell repertoire and subcompartment distribution, as well as defects in B lymphopoiesis, cell development and homeostasis that may contribute to these alterations, and ultimately to declining protective quality of antibodies produced in the elderly.

BLyS-mediated modulation of naive B cell subsets impacts HIV Env-induced antibody responses.

Neutralizing Abs provide the protective effect of the majority of existing human vaccines. For a prophylactic vaccine against HIV-1, broadly neutralizing Abs targeting conserved epitopes of the viral envelope glycoproteins (Env) are likely required, because the pool of circulating HIV-1 variants is extremely diverse. The failure to efficiently induce broadly neutralizing Abs by vaccination may be due to the use of suboptimal immunogens or immunization regimens, or it may indicate that B cells specific for broadly neutralizing Env determinants are selected against during peripheral checkpoints, either before or after Ag encounter. To investigate whether perturbation of B cell subsets prior to immunization with recombinant Env protein affects the vaccine-induced Ab response in mice, we used B lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS), a cytokine that regulates survival and selection of peripheral B cells. We show that the transient BLyS treatment used in this study substantially affected naive B cell populations; in particular, it resulted in more B cells surviving counter-selection at the transitional stages. We also observed more mature naive B cells, especially marginal zone B cells, in BLyS-treated mice. Intriguingly, provision of excess BLyS prior to immunization led to a consistent improvement in the frequency and potency of HIV-1 Env vaccine-induced neutralizing Ab responses, without increasing the number of Env-specific Ab-secreting cells or the Ab-binding titers measured after boosting. The results presented in this article suggest that an increased understanding of BLyS-regulated processes may help the design of vaccine regimens aimed at eliciting improved neutralizing Ab responses against HIV-1.

Resolve, revise, and relax: the 3 Rs of B cell repertoire adjustment.

Competition for limited, cell extrinsic survival factors is a general feature of peripheral selection checkpoints involved in B lymphocyte maturation and activation. Perhaps the best-characterized example involves BLyS (B lymphocyte stimulator), which modulates the size and composition of mature naïve B cell pools, but evidence for analogous competitive checkpoints is emerging for both germinal center B cells and plasma cells. Here we discuss how deliberate alteration of BLyS levels might be used to manipulate B cell repertoire selection in order to restore self-tolerance in autoimmunity, remodel the repertoire to accommodate neo-self antigens introduced through transplantation and gene therapy, or expand repertoire diversity to reveal novel, therapeutically useful specificities.

A B-cell subset uniquely responsive to innate stimuli accumulates in aged mice.

We have discovered a distinct mature B-cell subset that accumulates with age, which we have termed age-associated B cells. These cells comprise up to 30% of mature B cells by 22 months. Despite sharing some features with other mature B-cell subsets, they are refractory to BCR and CD40 stimulation. Instead, they respond to TLR9 or TLR7 stimulation and divide maximally on combined BCR and TLR ligation, leading to Ig production and preferential secretion of IL-10 and IL-4. Although similar to follicular B cells in both B-lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS) receptor expression and BLyS binding capacity, these cells do not rely on BLyS for survival. They are neither cycling nor the result of intrinsically altered B lymphopoiesis in aged BM, but instead appear to be generated from mature B cells that exhaustively expand during the individual's lifetime. Finally, they present Ag effectively and favor polarization to a TH17 profile. Together, these findings reveal that while the magnitude of the mature primary B-cell niche is maintained with age, it is increasingly occupied by cells refractory to BCR-driven activation yet responsive to innate receptor stimulation.

Targeting BLyS in rheumatic disease: the sometimes-bumpy road from bench to bedside.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: BLyS family ligands and receptors are key players in the selection and survival of most mature B lymphocytes. The fundamental role of BLyS in transitional B cell selection, coupled with the relative BLyS-independence of memory B cells and plasma cells, suggests that BLyS may be a useful therapeutic target in strategies directed against preimmune B cell pools. Several agents that target BLyS are in clinical trials now, and we summarize recent results here, with a focus on systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). RECENT FINDINGS: Belimumab, a human neutralizing anti-BLyS monoclonal antibody, has delivered moderate but positive results in two separate phase III clinical trials for SLE, and was recently recommended for approval by an FDA advisory panel. Additional agents targeting BLyS or other members of this cytokine receptor family are also being tested in clinical trials. SUMMARY: Together, these trials should yield novel therapies for a debilitating and often intractable illness and offer insights that in turn should foster subsequent generations of personalized, targeted therapies for rheumatic diseases.

B cells and aging: molecules and mechanisms.

Recent advances allow aging-associated changes in B-cell function to be approached at a mechanistic level. Reduced expression of genes crucial to lineage commitment and differentiation yield diminished B-cell production. Moreover, intrinsic differences in the repertoire generated by B-cell precursors in aged individuals, coupled with falling B-cell generation rates and life-long homeostatic competition, result in narrowed clonotypic diversity. Similarly, reductions in gene products crucial for immunoglobulin class switch recombination and somatic hypermutation impact the efficacy of humoral immune responses. Together, these findings set the stage for integrated analyses of how age-related changes at the molecular, cellular and population levels interact to yield the overall aging phenotype.

Tonic B cell antigen receptor signals supply an NF-kappaB substrate for prosurvival BLyS signaling.

The survival of transitional and mature B cells requires both the B cell antigen receptor (BCR) and BLyS receptor 3 (BR3), which suggests that these receptors send signals that are nonredundant or that engage in crosstalk with each other. Here we show that BCR signaling induced production of the nonclassical transcription factor NF-kappaB pathway substrate p100, which is required for transmission of BR3 signals and thus B cell survival. The capacity for sustained p100 production emerged during transitional B cell differentiation, the stage at which BCR signals begin to mediate survival rather than negative selection. Our findings identify a molecular mechanism for the reliance of primary B cells on continuous BR3 and BCR signaling, as well as for the gradual resistance to negative selection that is acquired during B cell maturation.

BLyS inhibition eliminates primary B cells but leaves natural and acquired humoral immunity intact.

We have used an inhibiting antibody to determine whether preimmune versus antigen-experienced B cells differ in their requisites for BLyS, a cytokine that controls differentiation and survival. Whereas in vivo BLyS inhibition profoundly reduced naïve B cell numbers and primary immune responses, it had a markedly smaller effect on memory B cells and long-lived plasma cells, as well as secondary immune responses. There was heterogeneity within the memory pools, because IgM-bearing memory cells were sensitive to BLyS depletion whereas IgG-bearing memory cells were not, although both were more resistant than naïve cells. There was also heterogeneity within B1 pools, as splenic but not peritoneal B1 cells were diminished by anti-BLyS treatment, yet the number of natural antibody-secreting cells remained constant. Together, these findings show that memory B cells and natural antibody-secreting cells are BLyS-independent and suggest that these pools can be separately manipulated.