Abstract
Abstract B cell activation can be initiated by antigen presenting cells (APC) that display intact antigen (Ag) on their surface. Reorientation of the B cell microtubule-organizing centre (MTOC) towards the APC facilitates Ag internalization at the immune synapse (IS), which is critical for B cells to present Ag to T cells and elicit T cell help. We showed previously that BCR-induced activation of the Rap GTPase, a key regulator of cell polarity and actin dynamics, is required for IS formation. We now show that BCR-induced Rap activation is critical for MTOC polarization towards anti-Ig-coated beads and towards APCs. Activated Rap increases actin dynamics and promotes cytoskeletal reorganization by activating the actin-severing protein cofilin. We found that both disrupting the actin cytoskeleton with latrunculin A and blocking cofilin function prevented MTOC polarization, suggesting that Rap controls MTOC reorientation via its effects on actin dynamics. To assess how actin dynamics regulates the microtubule (MT) network, we tested the role of the actin-MT crosslinking protein IQGAP1 in BCR-induced MTOC polarization. We found that both Rap and cofilin controlled the accumulation of IQGAP1 at the site of Ag contact, and that depleting IQGAP1 prevented MTOC polarization. Thus Rap regulates the polarity of the MT network via its effects on the actin cytoskeleton and this may involve proteins such as IQGAP1 that link the actin and MT cytoskeletons.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call