The roles of Toll-like receptor signaling in B cells during anti-viral responses and autoimmune diseases

Zhaolin Hua 
Associate Professor Hou Lab, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Abstract:

Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling in B cells plays critical roles in both anti-viral responses and autoimmune diseases. However, the precise mechanism underlying these functions is not clearly understood. B cells mainly express endosomal TLRs, and activation of TLR signaling in B cells largely depends on B cell receptor (BCR)-mediated antigen uptake in vivo. Thus, functions of TLR signaling in B cells often occur in the context of B cell activation. To study TLR signaling in B cells, we used bacterial phage Qβ-derived virus-like particle (Qβ-VLP) as a model antigen and developed methods to label and enrich Qβ-specific B cells. By examining antigen-specific B cell response to Qβ-VLP, we found that TLR signaling in B cells promoted multiple aspects of antibody responses through promoting early B cell proliferation and expression of transcription factors involved in cell differentiation.

References:

• Tian M, Hua Z, Hong S, Zhang Z, Liu C, Lin L, Chen J, Zhang W, Zhou X, Zhang F, DeFranco AL, Hou B, B cell-intrinsic MyD88 signaling promotes initial cell proliferation and differentiation to enhance the germinal center response to a virus-like particle. J Immunol, 2018 Feb 1; 200(3):937-48. Epub 2017 Dec 27.
• Liao W, Hua Z, Liu C, Lin L, Chen R, Hou B, Characterization of T-dependent and T-independent B cell responses to a viruslike particle. J Immunol. 2017 May 15; 198(10):3846-56. Epub 2017 Apr 17.

ALL ARE WELCOME

For more information, please contact Kim Ryun Drasbek: ryun@cfin.au.dk