Essential role of Id2 in negative regulation of IgE class switching

Nat Immunol. 2003 Jan;4(1):25-30. doi: 10.1038/ni874. Epub 2002 Dec 16.

Abstract

Serum concentrations of immunoglobulin E (IgE) in normal circumstances are kept much lower than those of other Ig isotypes to avoid allergic reactions. B cells lacking Id2 have increased E2A activity, which leads to specific enhancement of germline transcription of the immunoglobulin epsilon locus. As a consequence, Id2-deficient B cells undergo class switch recombination (CSR) to IgE at a much higher frequency than wild-type B cells. In contrast, Id2 is induced in wild-type B cells by transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) and suppresses IgE CSR. Our results provide evidence for the inhibitory and selective role of Id2 in IgE CSR in response to TGF-beta1. Id2 might act as molecular safeguard to suppress IgE CSR to prevent serious complications such as allergic hypersensitivity during the normal course of immune responses.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • B-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Base Sequence
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
  • DNA / genetics
  • DNA / metabolism
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Hypersensitivity / genetics
  • Hypersensitivity / immunology
  • Immunoglobulin Class Switching* / drug effects
  • Immunoglobulin E / biosynthesis*
  • Immunoglobulin E / genetics*
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Inhibitor of Differentiation Protein 2
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Protein Binding
  • Repressor Proteins*
  • Transcription Factors / genetics*
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Transcriptional Activation
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / pharmacology
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1

Substances

  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • ID2 protein, human
  • Idb2 protein, mouse
  • Inhibitor of Differentiation Protein 2
  • Repressor Proteins
  • TCF3 protein, human
  • TGFB1 protein, human
  • Tgfb1 protein, mouse
  • Transcription Factors
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1
  • Immunoglobulin E
  • DNA