B-1 cells and B-1 cell precursors prompt different responses to Wnt signaling

PLoS One. 2018 Jun 21;13(6):e0199332. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0199332. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

Recently several studies demonstrated a role for the Wnt pathway in lymphocyte development and self-renewal of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). B-1 cells constitute a separate lineage of B lymphocytes, originating during fetal hematopoiesis, expressing lymphoid and myeloid markers and possessing self-renewal ability, similar to early hematopoietic progenitors and HSCs. A plethora of studies have shown an important role for the evolutionary conserved Wnt pathway in the biology of HSCs and T lymphocyte development. Our previous data demonstrated abundant expression of Wnt pathway components by B-1 cells, including Wnt ligands and receptors. Here we report that the canonical Wnt pathway is activated in B-1 cell precursors, but not in mature B-1 cells. However, both B-1 precursors and B-1 cells are able to respond to Wnt ligands in vitro. Canonical Wnt activity promotes proliferation of B-1 cells, while non-canonical Wnt signals induce the expansion of B-1 precursors. Interestingly, using a co-culture system with OP9 cells, Wnt3a stimulus supported the generation of B-1a cells. Taking together, these results indicate that B-1 cells and their progenitors are differentially responsive to Wnt ligands, and that the balance of activation of canonical and non-canonical Wnt signaling may regulate the maintenance and differentiation of different B-1 cell subsets.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • B-Lymphocytes / cytology*
  • B-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • B-Lymphocytes / metabolism*
  • CD5 Antigens / metabolism
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Female
  • Interleukin-7 / pharmacology
  • Ligands
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Receptors, Interleukin-7 / metabolism
  • Stem Cells / cytology
  • Stem Cells / drug effects
  • Stem Cells / metabolism*
  • Wnt Proteins / pharmacology
  • Wnt Signaling Pathway* / drug effects

Substances

  • CD5 Antigens
  • Interleukin-7
  • Ligands
  • Receptors, Interleukin-7
  • Wnt Proteins

Grants and funding

The work was supported by Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP) - 2015/001986-2; 2008/55526-9 (AFP); 2011/23464-7 (LO). (www.fapesp.br) and the Comissão de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal do Nível Superior (CAPES) - BEX 10809/14-7 (www.capes.gov.br). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.