c-Met and its ligand hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor regulate mature B cell survival in a pathway induced by CD74

M Gordin, M Tesio, S Cohen, Y Gore… - The Journal of …, 2010 - journals.aai.org
M Gordin, M Tesio, S Cohen, Y Gore, F Lantner, L Leng, R Bucala, I Shachar
The Journal of Immunology, 2010journals.aai.org
The signals regulating the survival of mature splenic B cells have become a major focus in
recent studies of B cell immunology. Durable B cell persistence in the periphery is
dependent on survival signals that are transduced by cell surface receptors. In this study, we
describe a novel biological mechanism involved in mature B cell homeostasis, the
hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF)/c-Met pathway. We demonstrate that c-Met
activation by HGF leads to a survival cascade, whereas its blockade results in induction of …
Abstract
The signals regulating the survival of mature splenic B cells have become a major focus in recent studies of B cell immunology. Durable B cell persistence in the periphery is dependent on survival signals that are transduced by cell surface receptors. In this study, we describe a novel biological mechanism involved in mature B cell homeostasis, the hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF)/c-Met pathway. We demonstrate that c-Met activation by HGF leads to a survival cascade, whereas its blockade results in induction of mature B cell death. Our results emphasize a unique and critical function for c-Met signaling in the previously described macrophage migration inhibitory factor/CD74-induced survival pathway. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor recruits c-Met to the CD74/CD44 complex and thereby enables the induction of a signaling cascade within the cell. This signal results in HGF secretion, which stimulates the survival of the mature B cell population in an autocrine manner. Thus, the CD74–HGF/c-Met axis defines a novel physiologic survival pathway in mature B cells, resulting in the control of the humoral immune response.
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