No abstract

p190RhoGAP and Rho are key regulators of oligodendrocyte differentiation. The gene encoding p190RhoGAP is located at 19q13.3 of the human chromosome, a locus that is deleted in 50%-80% of oligodendrogliomas. Here we provide evidence that p190RhoGAP may suppress gliomagenesis by inducing a differentiated glial phenotype. Using a cell culture model of autocrine loop PDGF stimulation, we show that reduced Rho activity via p190RhoGAP overexpression or Rho kinase inhibition induced cellular process extension, a block in proliferation, and reduced expression of the neural precursor marker nestin. In vivo infection of mice with retrovirus expressing PDGF and the p190 GAP domain caused a decreased incidence of oligodendrogliomas compared with that observed with PDGF alone. Independent experiments revealed that the retroviral vector insertion site in 3 of 50 PDGF-induced gliomas was within the p190RhoGAP gene. This evidence strongly suggests that p190 regulates critical components of PDGF oncogenesis and can act as a tumor suppressor in PDGF-induced gliomas by down-regulating Rho activity.

In the endosomes of APCs, the MHC class II-like molecule H2-M catalyzes the exchange of class II-associated invariant chain peptides (CLIP) for antigenic peptides. H2-O is another class II-like molecule that modulates the peptide exchange activity of H2-M. Although the expression pattern of H2-O in mice has not been fully evaluated, H2-O is expressed by thymic epithelial cells, B cells, and dendritic cells (DCs). In this study, we investigated H2-O, H2-M, and I-Ab-CLIP expression patterns in B cell subsets during B cell development and activation. H2-O was first detected in the transitional 1 B cell subset and high levels were maintained in marginal zone and follicular B cells. H2-O levels were down-regulated specifically in germinal center B cells. Unexpectedly, we found that mouse B cells may have a pool of H2-O that is not associated with H2-M. Additionally, we further evaluate H2-O and H2-M interactions in mouse DCs, as well as H2-O expression in bone marrow-derived DCs. We also evaluated H2-O, H2-M, I-Ab, and I-Ab-CLIP expression in splenic DC subsets, in which H2-O expression levels varied among the splenic DC subsets. Although it has previously been shown that H2-O modifies the peptide repertoire, H2-O expression did not alter DC presentation of a number of endogenous and exogenous Ags. Our further characterization of H2-O expression in DCs, as well as the identification of a potential free pool of H2-O in mouse splenic B cells, suggest that H2-O may have a yet to be elucidated role in immune responses.

Upon antigen (Ag) encounter, B cells require T-cell help to enter the germinal center (GC). They obtain this help by presenting Agderived peptides on MHC class II (MHCII) for recognition by the T-cell receptor (TCR) of CD4 + T cells. Peptides are loaded onto MHCII in endosomal compartments in a process catalyzed by the MHCII-like protein H2-M (HLA-DM in humans). This process is modulated by another MHCII-like protein, H2-O (HLA-DO in humans). H2-O is a biochemical inhibitor of peptide loading onto MHCII; however, on the cellular level, it has been shown to have varying effects on Ag presentation. Thus, the function of H2-O in the adaptive immune response remains unclear. Here, we examine the effect of H2-O expression on the ability of Ag-specific B cells to enter the GC. We show that when Ag specific WT and H2-O −/− B cells are placed in direct competition, H2-O −/− B cells preferentially populate the GC. This advantage is confined to Ag-specific B cells and is due to their superior ability to obtain Ag-specific T-cell help when T-cell help is limiting. Overall, our work shows that H2-O expression reduces the ability of B cells to gain T-cell help and participate in the GC reaction.antigen processing | antigen presentation | H2-M | follicular helper T cells | HLA-DOA ntigen (Ag) processing and presentation on MHCII is central to T cell-dependent Ab-mediated immunity. During an immune response, Ag-specific naïve B cells recognize and internalize Ag via the B-cell receptor (BCR). The Ag is subsequently transported to late endosomes and lysosomes, where it is degraded into peptides, some of which are loaded onto MHC class II (MHCII) (1). These MHCII-peptide complexes are then displayed on the cell surface for recognition by cognate CD4 + T cells. This recognition event allows B cells to obtain T-cell help from a rare population of T cells known as CD4 + follicular helper T cells (T FH ). The interaction between the Ag-specific B cells and T FH cells is essential for B-cell entry into the germinal center (GC) (2).Peptide loading of MHCII is catalyzed by the nonclassical MHCII-like protein H2-M (HLA-DM in humans) (3-5). H2-M, which localizes to endosomes (6), promotes the removal of class IIassociated invariant chain peptides (CLIP) from the peptidebinding groove of MHCII. H2-M also stabilizes empty MHCII molecules and edits the final MHCII-bound peptide repertoire that is displayed at the cell surface to ensure that only long-lived MHCII-peptide complexes are presented (7). Another nonclassical MHCII-like protein, H2-O (HLA-DO in humans), also localizes to endosomes in B cells (8). H2-O forms a complex with H2-M and has been shown to inhibit or modulate the ability of H2-M to catalyze and edit MHCII peptide exchange (9-12). Surprisingly, H2-O-deficient mice exhibit only minor abnormalities in Ag presentation (11, 13).Ag presentation is important for many aspects of immunity, including initiating the GC response. Admission of B cells into the GC is a competitive process that is dependent upon help from Agspecific T F...