Co-ligation of mouse complement receptors 1 and 2 with surface IgM rescues splenic B cells and WEHI-231 cells from anti-surface IgM-induced apoptosis.

Recent studies have shown that complement receptors play important roles in both T-dependent and T-independent B lymphocyte responses to low doses of antigen (Ag) in vivo. Complement activation by either the classical or alternative pathway results in the covalent binding of C3 molecules to Ag in forms that ligate complement receptors type 1 (CR1) and 2 (CR2). We hypothesized that C3-bound Ag might cross-link CR2 and/or CR1 with surface (s)IgM and alter the signal that would be transduced through sIgM by Ag binding alone. One result of the altered signal could be the rescue of B lymphocytes from apoptosis that would otherwise be induced by the binding of certain types of Ag alone. We find that co-cross-linking of mouse CR2 and CR1 with sIgM rescues both resting B cells and WEHI-231.7 cells from apoptosis induced by sIgM ligation in a fashion similar to that found using soluble mouse CD40 ligand (mCD40L). Anti-CR2/CR1-mediated rescue requires co-cross-linking of the receptors with sIgM, and has an additive effect on mCD40L-mediated apoptosis rescue. Based on these results, it is likely that the CR2/CR1-derived signal is cooperative with T cell-derived signals such as CD40L and interleukin-4.