B cell αv integrin regulates tissue specialization and clonal expansion of lung germinal center and memory B cells after viral infection.

ABSTRACT: Lung-resident B cells are increasingly recognized as key contributors to protective immunity against respiratory viruses, yet the mechanisms that govern their generation and specialization remain poorly understood. Here, we identify B cell-intrinsic αv integrin as a critical negative regulator of germinal center (GC) dynamics and memory B cell formation in the lung following influenza A virus (IAV) infection. Using B cell-specific αv knockout mice, we show that loss of B cell αv integrin leads to persistent GC activity within the inducible bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue and expansion of lung-resident memory B cells, including IgA⁺ and cross-reactive B cells capable of recognizing heterologous influenza variants. Single-cell transcriptomic and B cell receptor (BCR) sequence

SUBMITTER: Montiel-Armendariz A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11463618 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature