Transcription factors in mature B-cells during aging

Abstract

The purpose of this chapter is to give an overview of the age-related changes in the expression and function of the major transcription factors regulating mature B-cells. We also summarize our recent work and show that the age-related defects in Ig class switch are directly related to the decrease in the transcription factor E47 which controls the expression of AID, needed for CSR. The age-associated effects on the expression and function of the transcription factors NF-κ B and Pax-5 are also described. Blimp-1 seems not to be modified by aging. For other transcription factors relevant for mature B-cell functions, such and IRF4 and Notch2, no effects of aging have been reported so far. The defects presented herein for aged B-cells should allow the discovery of mechanisms to improve humoral immune responses in both humans and mice in the near future.