Possible involvement of Helios in controlling the immature B cell functions via transcriptional regulation of protein kinase Cs

AbstractThe transcription factor Ikaros family consists of five zinc-finger proteins: Ikaros, Aiolos, Helios, Eos and Pegasus; these proteins except Pegasus are essential for development and differentiation of lymphocytes. However, in B lymphocytes, the physiological role of Helios remains to be elucidated yet, because its expression level is very low. Here, we generated the Helios-deficient DT40 cells, Helios−/−, and showed that the Helios-deficiency caused significant increases in transcriptions of four protein kinase Cs (PKCs); PKC-δ, PKC-ε, PKC-η and PKC-ζ, whereas their expressions were drastically down-regulated in the Aiolos-deficient DT40 cells, Aiolos−/−. In addition, Helios−/− was remarkably resistant against phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)/ionomycin treatment, which mimics the B cell receptor (BCR)-mediated stimulation. In the presence of PMA/ionomycin, their viability was remarkably higher than that of DT40, and their DNA fragmentation was less severe than that of DT40 in the opposite manner for the Aiolos-deficiency. The resistance against the PMA/ionomycin-induced apoptosis of Helios−/− was sensitive to Rottlerin but not to Go6976. In addition, the Helios-deficiency caused remarkable up-regulation of the Rottlerin-sensitive superoxide (O2−)-generating activity. These data suggest that Helios may contribute to the regulation of the BCR-mediated apoptosis and O2−-generating activity, via transcriptional regulation of these four PKCs (especially PKC-δ) in immature B lymphocytes. Together with previous data, our findings may significantly help in the understanding of the B lymphocyte-specific expressions of PKC genes and molecular mechanisms of both the BCR-mediated apoptosis involved in negative selection and the O2−-generating system in immature B lymphocytes

A case of Sjögren's syndrome in which diffuse cystic lung lesions led to an accurate diagnosis

Key Clinical Message Even in the absence of other symptoms or other pulmonary manifestations suggesting Sjögren's syndrome (SS), it is necessary to include SS in the differential diagnosis of diffuse cystic lung disease (CLD). Abstract A case of SS that presented initially with diffuse CLD is reported. This case is considered rare because diffuse pulmonary cysts were observed in the early stage with few symptoms, only cysts were observed without other lung lesions on imaging, cyst formation was histologically considered to be alveolar loss, and airway lesions not observed on imaging were suspected based on lung function testing. The details of this case provide extremely important information to consider for the diagnosis and management of CLD and SS