The AKT kinase signaling network is rewired by PTEN to control proximal BCR signaling in germinal center B cells

Nat Immunol. 2019 Jun;20(6):736-746. doi: 10.1038/s41590-019-0376-3. Epub 2019 Apr 22.

Abstract

B cell antigen receptor (BCR) and CD40 signaling are rewired in germinal center (GC) B cells (GCBCs) to optimize selection for high-affinity B cells. In GCBC, BCR signals are constrained, but the mechanisms are not well understood. Here we describe a GC-specific, AKT-kinase-driven negative feedback loop that attenuates BCR signaling. Mass spectrometry revealed that AKT target activity was altered in GCBCs compared with naive B cells. Retargeting was linked to differential AKT T308 and S473 phosphorylation, in turn controlled by GC-specific upregulation of phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase PDK1 and the phosphatase PTEN. In GCBCs, AKT preferentially targeted CSK, SHP-1 and HPK1, which are negative regulators of BCR signaling. We found that phosphorylation enhances enzymatic activity of these proteins, creating a negative feedback loop that dampens upstream BCR signaling. AKT inhibition relieved this negative feedback and enhanced activation of BCR-proximal kinase LYN, as well as downstream BCR signaling molecules in GCBCs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • B-Lymphocytes / metabolism*
  • Biomarkers
  • Computational Biology / methods
  • Enzyme Activation
  • Gene Knockout Techniques
  • Germinal Center / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Mice, Knockout
  • PTEN Phosphohydrolase / metabolism*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction*
  • Substrate Specificity

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • PTEN Phosphohydrolase