STAT3 signaling in B cells controls germinal center zone organization and recycling

Adam J. Fike, Sathi Babu Chodisetti, Nathaniel E. Wright, Kristen N. Bricker, Phillip P. Domeier, Mark Maienschein-Cline, Aaron M. Rosenfeld, Sara A. Luckenbill, Julia L. Weber, Nicholas M. Choi, Eline T. Luning Prak, Malay Mandal, Marcus R. Clark, Ziaur S.M. Rahman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

12 Scopus citations

Abstract

Germinal centers (GCs), sites of antibody affinity maturation, are organized into dark (DZ) and light (LZ) zones. Here, we show a B cell-intrinsic role for signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) in GC DZ and LZ organization. Altered zonal organization of STAT3-deficient GCs dampens development of long-lived plasma cells (LL-PCs) but increases memory B cells (MBCs). In an abundant antigenic environment, achieved here by prime-boost immunization, STAT3 is not required for GC initiation, maintenance, or proliferation but is important for sustaining GC zonal organization by regulating GC B cell recycling. Th cell-derived signals drive STAT3 tyrosine 705 and serine 727 phosphorylation in LZ B cells, regulating their recycling into the DZ. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq) analyses identified STAT3 regulated genes that are critical for LZ cell recycling and transiting through DZ proliferation and differentiation phases. Thus, STAT3 signaling in B cells controls GC zone organization and recycling, and GC egress of PCs, but negatively regulates MBC output.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number112512
JournalCell Reports
Volume42
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - May 30 2023

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

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