A dual function for the chromatin organizer Special A-T rich Binding Protein 1 in B-lineage cells

SATB1(Special A-T rich Binding protein 1)is a cell type-specific factor that regulates the genetic network in developing T cells and neurons.In T cells,SATB1 is required for lineage commitment,VDJ recombination,development and maturation.Considering that its expression varies during B-cell differentiation,the involvement of SATB1 needs to be clarified in this lineage.Using a KO mouse model in which SATB1 was deleted from the pro-B-cell stage,we examined the consequences of SATB1 deletion in naive and activated B-cell subsets.Our model indicates first,unlike its essential function in T cells,that SATB1 is dispensable for B-cell development and the establishment of a broad IgH repertoire.Second,we show that SATB1 exhibits an ambivalent function in mature B cells,acting sequentially as a positive and negative regulator of Ig gene transcription in naive and activated cells,respectively.Third,our study indicates that the negative regulatory function of SATB1 in B cells extends to the germinal center response,in which this factor limits somatic hypermutation of Ig genes.

Physiological and druggable skipping of immunoglobulin variable exons in plasma cells

The error-prone V(D)J recombination process generates considerable amounts of nonproductive immunoglobulin(Ig)pre-mRNAs.We recently demonstrated that aberrant Ig chains lacking variable(V)domains can be produced after nonsense-associated altered splicing(NAS)events.Remarkably,the expression of these truncated Ig polypeptides heightens endoplasmic reticulum stress and shortens plasma cell(PC)lifespan.Many questions remain regarding the molecular mechanisms underlying this new truncated Ig exclusion(TIE-)checkpoint and its restriction to the ultimate stage of B-cell differentiation.To address these issues,we evaluated the extent of NAS of Ig pre-mRNAs using an Ig heavy chain(IgH)knock-in model that allows for uncoupling of V exon skipping from TIE-induced apoptosis.We found high levels of V exon skipping in PCs compared with B cells,and this skipping was correlated with a biallelic boost in IgH transcription during PC differentiation.Chromatin analysis further revealed that the skipped V exon turned into a pseudo-intron.Finally,we showed that hypertranscription of Ig genes facilitated V exon skipping upon passive administration of splice-switching antisense oligonucleotides(ASOs).Thus,V exon skipping is coupled to transcription and increases as PC differentiation proceeds,likely explaining the late occurrence of the TIE-checkpoint and opening new avenues for ASO-mediated strategies in PC disorders.