The Ets factor Spi-B is a direct critical target of the coactivator OBF-1

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2006 Aug 1;103(31):11665-70. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0509430103. Epub 2006 Jul 21.

Abstract

OBF-1 (Bob.1, OCA-B) is a lymphoid-specific transcriptional coactivator that associates with the transcription factors Oct-1 or Oct-2 on the conserved octamer element present in the promoters of several ubiquitous and lymphoid-specific genes. OBF-1-deficient mice have B cell-intrinsic defects, lack germinal centers, and have severely impaired immune responses to T cell-dependent antigens. Crucial genes that are regulated by OBF-1 and that might explain the observed phenotype of OBF-1 deficiency have remained elusive to date. Here we have generated transgenic mice expressing OBF-1 specifically in T cells and examined these together with mice lacking OBF-1 to discover transcriptional targets of this coactivator. Using microarray analysis, we have identified the Ets transcription factor Spi-B as a direct target gene critically regulated by OBF-1 that can help explain the phenotype of OBF-1-deficient mice. Spi-B has been implicated in signaling pathways downstream of the B cell receptor and is essential for germinal center formation and maintenance. The present findings establish a hierarchy between these two factors and provide a molecular link between OBF-1 and B cell receptor signaling.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Humans
  • In Situ Hybridization
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
  • Phenotype
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ets / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ets / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / physiology
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Trans-Activators / genetics
  • Trans-Activators / metabolism*
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Transcription, Genetic*

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Pou2af1 protein, mouse
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ets
  • Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell
  • Spi-B protein, mouse
  • Trans-Activators
  • Transcription Factors
  • SPIB protein, human