B cell defects in SLP65/BLNK-deficient mice can be partially corrected by the absence of CD22, an inhibitory coreceptor for BCR signaling.

CD22 is an inhibitory coreceptor for B cell receptor (BCR) signaling. The inhibition is most likely mediated by activation of SHP-1. We found that SLP65/BLNK reaches maximal tyrosine-phosphorylation at earlier time points in CD22(-/-) than in wild type B cells upon BCR cross-linking, suggesting that SLP65/BLNK is a substrate of SHP-1. However, in contrast to the defective Ca(2+) mobilization of SLP65/BLNK(-/-) B cells, there was a clear Ca(2+) response in SLP65/BLNKxCD22 double-deficient B cells. This implies that SLP65/BLNK is not the sole target of SHP-1 in the regulation of the Ca(2+) signaling strength. While SLP65(-/-) mice show several blocks of B cell differentiation, in SLP65/BLNK x CD22 double-deficient mice the maturation block of B cells in the spleen was partially rescued. However, the proliferative responses of B cells from both SLP65/BLNK(-/-) and double-deficient mice were defective after IgM- or CD40-stimulation. These results show that SLP65/BLNK is not absolutely essential for Ca(2+) induction in B cells, because the deficiency of this adapter can be by-passed by the additional deletion of an inhibitory receptor. Furthermore, these experiments suggest that B cell maturation in the spleen is directly dependent on the strength of BCR-derived Ca(2+) signals.

CD22 regulates early B cell development in BOB.1/OBF.1-deficient mice.

BOB.1/OBF.1 (also called OCA-B), a B lymphocyte-specific transcriptional coactivator, is recruited to octamer-containing promoters by interacting with the Oct-1 or Oct-2 proteins. BOB.1/OBF.1-deficient mice show impaired secondary immunoglobulin isotype secretion and complete absence of germinal centers. Furthermore, numbers of splenic B cells are reduced due to a developmental block at the transitional B cell stage in the bone marrow. We found that surface expression of CD22 is selectively increased on B lineage cells in the bone marrow of BOB.1/OBF.1-deficient mice. CD22 is known as a negative regulator of B cell receptor signaling. We therefore investigated whether defects in B cell development in the BOB.1/OBF.1-deficient mice might be due to CD22 up-regulation. Mice were generated lacking both genes. In BOB.1/OBF.1xCD22 double-deficient mice, numbers of transitional B cells in the bone marrow were normal. Consequently, double-deficient mice also had normal B to T cell ratios in the spleen. We show that BOB.1/OBF.1(-/-) B cells were incapable to induce BCR-triggered Ca(2+) mobilization. This Ca(2+)-signalling defect was restored in BOB.1/OBF.1xCD22 double-deficient B cells. Nevertheless, double-deficient animals were unable to mount humoral immune responses and to form germinal centers. Finally, we demonstrate that CD22(-/-) splenic B cells proliferate independently of BOB.1/OBF.1 upon stimulation with LPS. These studies suggest that the B cell differentiation defect observed in BOB.1/OBF.1(-/-) mice is BCR-signal dependent. However, the impairment in germinal center formation is caused by a different mechanism.

The ligand-binding domain of CD22 is needed for inhibition of the B cell receptor signal, as demonstrated by a novel human CD22-specific inhibitor compound.

CD22 is a B cell-specific transmembrane protein of the Siglec family. It binds specifically to alpha2,6-linked sialic acid (Sia) residues, which are also present on glycoproteins on the B cell surface. CD22 acts as a negative regulator in B cell receptor-mediated signaling by recruitment of Src homology 2 domain-containing tyrosine phosphatase (SHP)-1 to its intracellular tail. To analyze how ligand-binding of CD22 influences its intracellular signaling domain, we designed synthetic sialosides as inhibitors for the lectin domain of CD22. One of these compounds inhibited binding of human CD22-Fc to target cells over 200-fold better than Sia and was highly selective for human CD22. When Daudi cells or primary B cells were stimulated with anti-immunoglobulin (Ig)M in presence of this sialoside inhibitor, a higher Ca(2+) response was observed, similar to CD22-deficient B cells. Accordingly, a lower tyrosine-phosphorylation of CD22 and SHP-1 recruitment was demonstrated in presence of the sialoside. Thus, by interfering with ligand binding of CD22 on the B cell surface, we have shown for the first time that the lectin domain of CD22 has a direct, positive influence on its intracellular inhibitory domain. Also, we have developed a novel low molecular weight compound which can enhance the response of human B cells.

Reduction of marginal zone B cells in CD22-deficient mice.

CD22 is a B cell-specific member of the immunoglobulin superfamily and binds to sialic acid. CD22 inhibits B cell receptor signaling. Mice deficient for CD22 show a largely normal B cell development. Here, we have performed a detailed analysis of the splenic B cell population and found that the subset of marginal zone (MZ) B cells was selectively reduced in CD22-deficient mice. CD22-deficient mice showed a lack of TNP-ficoll capturing cells in the MZ and a reduced response to TNP-ficoll, particularly when the antigen was applied intravenously. CD22-deficient B cells showed both enhanced motility as well as enhanced chemotaxis to certain chemokines. The altered chemokine responsiveness or the higher signaling capacity of CD22-deficient B cells may lead to the compromised MZ B cell compartment, as both processes have previously been shown to affect MZ composition.