Abstract
IFN-regulatory factor 5 (IRF-5), a member of the IRF family, is a transcriptionfactor that has a key role in the induction of the antiviral and inflammatory response. When compared with C57BL/6 mice, Irf5-/- mice show higher susceptibility to viral infection and decreased serum levels of type I IFN and the inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α. Here, we demonstrate that IRF-5 is involved in B-cell maturation and the stimulation of Blimp-1 expression. The Irf5-/- mice develop an age-related splenomegaly, associated with a dramatic accumulation of CD19+B220- B cells and a disruption of normal splenic architecture. Splenic B cells from Irf5-/- mice also exhibited a decreased level ofplasma cells. TheCD19+ Irf5-/- B cells showa defect inToll-like receptor (TLR) 7- andTLR9-induced IL-6 production, andthe aged Irf5-/- mice have decreased serum levels of natural antibodies; however, the antigen-specific IgG1 primary response was already dependent in IRF-5 in young mice, although the IgM response was not. Analysis of the profile of transcription factors associated with plasma cell differentiationshows down-regulationofBlimp-1 expression, a master regulator of plasma cell differentiation, which can be reconstituted with ectopic IRF-5. IRF-5 stimulates transcription of the Prdm1 gene encoding Blimp-1 and binds to the IRF site in the Prdm1 promoter. Collectively, these results reveal that the age-related splenomegaly in Irf5-/- mice is associated with an accumulation of CD19 +B220- B cells with impaired functions and show the role of IRF-5 i the direct regulation of the plasma cell commitment factor Blimp-1 annd in B-cell terminal differentiation.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 4664-4668 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America |
Volume | 107 |
Issue number | 10 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 9 2010 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Antigenic response
- B-cell development
- Blimp-1
- IRF-5
- Toll-like receptors
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General