Project description:The B cell-specific BACH2 transcription factor is required for affinity maturation of mature B cells. Here, we show that Bach2 mediates negative selection at the pre-B cell receptor checkpoint and functions as a critical safeguard against leukemogenesis. Bach2-mediated activation of p53 is required for stringent elimination of pre-B cells that failed to productively rearrange immunoglobulin VH-DJH gene segments, and thus lack pre-B cell receptor expression. Upon productive VH-DJH gene rearrangement, pre-B cell receptor signaling ends negative selection through BCL6-mediated repression of p53. In patients with pre-B acute lymphoblastic leukemia, Bach2-mediated checkpoint control is frequently compromised and low levels of Bach2 expression represent a strong independent predictor of poor clinical outcome. Bach2+/+ pre-B cells resist leukemic transformation by Myc through Bach2-dependent upregulation of p53. Upon transformation with Myc, Bach2-/- pre-B cells fail to upregulate p53, form large colonies and initiate fatal leukemia in transplant recipient mice. ChIP-seq and gene expression analyses revealed that BACH2 competes with BCL6 for promoter binding and reverses BCL6-mediated repression of p53 and multiple other checkpoint control genes. These findings identify Bach2 as a key activator of p53 in pre-B cells, which is critical to maintain stringency of the pre-B cell receptor checkpoint and an important barrier against leukemic transformation. ChIP-seq using BACH2 and BCL6 antibodies in OCI-Ly7 cells
Project description:The B cell-specific BACH2 transcription factor is required for affinity maturation of mature B cells. Here, we show that Bach2 mediates negative selection at the pre-B cell receptor checkpoint and functions as a critical safeguard against leukemogenesis. Bach2-mediated activation of p53 is required for stringent elimination of pre-B cells that failed to productively rearrange immunoglobulin VH-DJH gene segments, and thus lack pre-B cell receptor expression. Upon productive VH-DJH gene rearrangement, pre-B cell receptor signaling ends negative selection through BCL6-mediated repression of p53. In patients with pre-B acute lymphoblastic leukemia, Bach2-mediated checkpoint control is frequently compromised and low levels of Bach2 expression represent a strong independent predictor of poor clinical outcome. Bach2+/+ pre-B cells resist leukemic transformation by Myc through Bach2-dependent upregulation of p53. Upon transformation with Myc, Bach2-/- pre-B cells fail to upregulate p53, form large colonies and initiate fatal leukemia in transplant recipient mice. ChIP-seq and gene expression analyses revealed that BACH2 competes with BCL6 for promoter binding and reverses BCL6-mediated repression of p53 and multiple other checkpoint control genes. These findings identify Bach2 as a key activator of p53 in pre-B cells, which is critical to maintain stringency of the pre-B cell receptor checkpoint and an important barrier against leukemic transformation.
Project description:Identification of de novo copy number abnormalities arising in relapsed paediatric ALL in matched presentation and relapse samples. We identified deletions of BACH2, (BTB and CNC homology 1, basic leucine zipper transcription factor 2) at relapse. To study the role of Bach2 in pre-B ALL in a genetic experiment, we transformed pre-B cells from Bach2–/– mice with BCR-ABL1. Our findings identify Bach2 as a novel tumor suppressor upstream of p53 in pre-B ALL.
Project description:Identification of de novo copy number abnormalities arising in relapsed paediatric ALL in matched presentation and relapse samples. We identified deletions of BACH2, (BTB and CNC homology 1, basic leucine zipper transcription factor 2) at relapse. To study the role of Bach2 in pre-B ALL in a genetic experiment, we transformed pre-B cells from Bach2–/– mice with BCR-ABL1. Our findings identify Bach2 as a novel tumor suppressor upstream of p53 in pre-B ALL. 64 arrays (32 250K Nsp and 32 250K Sty) are included in this study. DNA was extracted from the presentation and relapse samples from 11 paediatric patients and DNA was extarcted from the remission samples from 10 patient and hybridised to the Affymetrix Human Mapping 500K Array Set.
Project description:The molecular circuits that direct early T-dependent B cell responses and alternative cell-fate decisions remain poorly understood. Here, we show that either B cell receptor (BCR) or CD40 signals promoted mTORC1-dependent translation of the transcription factor Bach2. Transient up-regulation of Bach2 protein restrained activated B cell expansion and differentiation into plasma cell while promoting the germinal center (GC) and memory B cell fates at the pre-GC stage. However, enforced Bach2 expression facilitated memory B cell generation versus other cell fates. Mechanistically, Bach2 limited access of AP-1 factors and formed a reciprocal repression loop with IRF4. BCR and CD40 signals also down-regulated Bach2 transcript in antigen-activated B cells, and diversified its abundance in various effector populations, predisposing Bach2 protein expression and subsequent cell-fate choices during memory recall and GC reaction. Thus signaling-induced differential dynamics of Bach2 protein and mRNA in activated B cell control their cell-fate outcomes and imprint the fate of their descendant effector cells.
Project description:The molecular circuits that direct early T-dependent B cell responses and alternative cell-fate decisions remain poorly understood. Here, we show that either B cell receptor (BCR) or CD40 signals promoted mTORC1-dependent translation of the transcription factor Bach2. Transient up-regulation of Bach2 protein restrained activated B cell expansion and differentiation into plasma cell while promoting the germinal center (GC) and memory B cell fates at the pre-GC stage. However, enforced Bach2 expression facilitated memory B cell generation versus other cell fates. Mechanistically, Bach2 limited access of AP-1 factors and formed a reciprocal repression loop with IRF4. BCR and CD40 signals also down-regulated Bach2 transcript in antigen-activated B cells, and diversified its abundance in various effector populations, predisposing Bach2 protein expression and subsequent cell-fate choices during memory recall and GC reaction. Thus signaling-induced differential dynamics of Bach2 protein and mRNA in activated B cell control their cell-fate outcomes and imprint the fate of their descendant effector cells.
Project description:The aim was to investigate how BCL6 genotype affects Bach2 dependent gene expression changes. We compared gene expression profiles of BCL6+/+ and BCL6-/- BCR-ABL1 transformed pre-B cells after inducible overexpression of Bach2.
Project description:Through their functional diversification, CD4+ T cells play key roles in both driving and constraining immune-mediated pathology. Transcription factors are critical in the generation and maintenance of cellular diversity and negative regulators antagonistic to alternate fates often act in conjunction with positive regulators to stabilize lineage specification1. Polymorphisms within the locus encoding a transcription factor BACH2 are associated with diverse immune-mediated diseases including asthma2, multiple sclerosis3, Crohn¹s disease4-5, coeliac disease6, vitiligo7 and type 1 diabetes8. A role for Bach2 in maintaining immune homeostasis, however, has not been established. Here, we define Bach2 as a broad regulator of immune activation that stabilizes immunoregulatory capacity while repressing the differentiation programmes of multiple effector lineages in CD4+ T cells. Bach2 was required for efficient formation of regulatory (Treg) cells and consequently for suppression of lethal inflammation in a manner that was Treg cell dependent. Assessment of the genome-wide function of Bach2, however, revealed that it represses genes associated with effector cell differentiation. Consequently, its absence during Treg polarization resulted in inappropriate diversion to effector lineages. In addition, Bach2 constrained full effector differentiation within Th1, Th2 and Th17 cell lineages. These findings identify Bach2 as a key regulator of CD4+ T-cell differentiation that prevents inflammatory disease by controlling the balance between tolerance and immunity. The role of Bach2t to regulate immune homeostasis was investigated by mapping DNA binding profiles of Bach2 in iTreg condition. The function of Bach2 was also evaluated by comparing transcriptome in WT and Bach2-deficient iTreg cells and further comparison was done with transcriptome in naive, Th1, Th2, and Th17 conditions.
Project description:Through their functional diversification, CD4+ T cells play key roles in both driving and constraining immune-mediated pathology. Transcription factors are critical in the generation and maintenance of cellular diversity and negative regulators antagonistic to alternate fates often act in conjunction with positive regulators to stabilize lineage specification1. Polymorphisms within the locus encoding a transcription factor BACH2 are associated with diverse immune-mediated diseases including asthma2, multiple sclerosis3, Crohn¹s disease4-5, coeliac disease6, vitiligo7 and type 1 diabetes8. A role for Bach2 in maintaining immune homeostasis, however, has not been established. Here, we define Bach2 as a broad regulator of immune activation that stabilizes immunoregulatory capacity while repressing the differentiation programmes of multiple effector lineages in CD4+ T cells. Bach2 was required for efficient formation of regulatory (Treg) cells and consequently for suppression of lethal inflammation in a manner that was Treg cell dependent. Assessment of the genome-wide function of Bach2, however, revealed that it represses genes associated with effector cell differentiation. Consequently, its absence during Treg polarization resulted in inappropriate diversion to effector lineages. In addition, Bach2 constrained full effector differentiation within Th1, Th2 and Th17 cell lineages. These findings identify Bach2 as a key regulator of CD4+ T-cell differentiation that prevents inflammatory disease by controlling the balance between tolerance and immunity.
Project description:The role of FoxP3+ regulatory T (Treg) cells in the maintenance of immunological tolerance is well established. Recently, genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in humans have associated polymorphisms within the BACH2 locus encoding the transcription factor BTB and CNC homology 1, basic leucine zipper transcription factor 2 (Bach2) with diverse allergic and autoimmune diseases including asthma, multiple sclerosis, Crohn's disease, celiac disease, generalized vitiligo and type 1 diabetes. Common to these diseases is a failure to adequately maintain immunological tolerance. However, a role for Bach2 in this process has not been established. Here, by assessing the phenotype of mice in which the Bach2 gene is disrupted, we demonstrate a non-redundant role for Bach2 in the prevention of a spontaneous lethal inflammatory disorder predominantly affecting the lung and gut with excessive T helper 2 (Th2) responses and formation of circulating autoantibodies. Bach2 was necessary for efficient induction of FoxP3 expression both during thymopoesis and upon stimulation of naïve peripheral CD4+ T cells under Treg polarizing conditions in vitro. Consequently, in bone marrow reconstitution experiments, Bach2 expression within the haematopoetic system was necessary for suppression of lethal autoimmunity in a manner that was FoxP3 dependent. These findings demonstrate a requirement for Bach2 in early lineage commitment of both thymic and induced Treg cells and point to shared mechanisms that underlie diverse allergic and autoimmune disorders that may serve as targets in the development of novel therapeutic strategies. Six samples were collected from separate mice: three Ly5.1+ wildtype thymocyte samples (biological replicates) and three Ly5.1- Bach2 knockout thymocyte samples (biological replicates).