| First Author | Lin L | Year | 2004 |
| Journal | J Exp Med | Volume | 200 |
| Issue | 1 | Pages | 115-22 |
| PubMed ID | 15226356 | Mgi Jnum | J:91373 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:3046617 | Doi | 10.1084/jem.20040612 |
| Citation | Lin L, et al. (2004) Active Inhibition of Plasma Cell Development in Resting B Cells by Microphthalmia-associated Transcription Factor. J Exp Med 200(1):115-22 |
| abstractText | B cell terminal differentiation involves development into an antibody-secreting plasma cell, reflecting the concerted activation of proplasma cell transcriptional regulators, such as Blimp-1, IRF-4, and Xbp-1. Here, we show that the microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (Mitf) is highly expressed in naive B cells, where it antagonizes the process of terminal differentiation through the repression of IRF-4. Defective Mitf activity results in spontaneous B cell activation, antibody secretion, and autoantibody production. Conversely, ectopic Mitf expression suppresses the expression of IRF-4, the plasma cell marker CD138, and antibody secretion. Thus, Mitf regulates B cell homeostasis by suppressing the antibody-secreting fate. |
