B Cell Anergy Modulated by TLR1/2 and the miR-17∼92 Cluster Underlies the Indolent Clinical Course of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Stereotyped Subset #4.

Ntoufa S, Papakonstantinou N, Apollonio B, Gounari M, Galigalidou C, Fonte E, Anagnostopoulos A, Belessi C, Muzio M, Ghia P, Stamatopoulos K

J. Immunol. 196 (10) 4410-4417 [2016-05-15; online 2016-04-08]

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients assigned to stereotyped subset #4 (mutated IGHV4-34/IGKV2-30 BCR Ig) display a particularly indolent disease course. Immunogenetic studies of the clonotypic BCR Ig of CLL subset #4 suggested a resemblance with B cells rendered anergic through chronic autoantigenic stimulation. In this article, we provide experimental evidence that subset #4 CLL cells show low IgG levels, constitutive ERK1/2 activation, and fail to either release intracellular Ca(2+) or activate MAPK signaling after BCR cross-linking, thus displaying a signature of B cell anergy at both biochemical and functional levels. Interestingly, TLR1/2 triggering restored BCR functionality, likely breaching the anergic state, and this was accompanied by induction of the miR-17∼92 cluster, whose members target critical BCR-associated molecules, including MAPKs. In conclusion, we demonstrate BCR anergy in CLL subset #4 and implicate TLR signaling and the miR-17∼92 cluster in the regulation of the anergic state. This detailed signaling profiling of subset #4 has implications for advanced understanding of the complex regulation of intracellular signaling pathways in CLL, currently a major therapeutic target of the disease.

Affiliated researcher

PubMed 27059597

DOI 10.4049/jimmunol.1502297

Crossref 10.4049/jimmunol.1502297

pii: jimmunol.1502297


Publications 9.5.0