Cutting Edge: Signaling and Cell Surface Expression of a μH Chain in the Absence of λ5: A Paradigm Revisited

Abstract

Pre-B cell receptor (pre-BCR) signals are essential for pro-B cells to mature efficiently into pre-B cells. The pre-BCR is an Ig-like transmembrane complex that is assembled from two μH chains (μHC) and two surrogate L chains consisting of the non-covalently associated polypeptides VpreB and λ5. In λ5−/− mice, pro-B cell maturation is impaired, but not completely blocked, implying that a μHC induces differentiation signals in the absence of λ5. Using a mouse model, in which transgenic μHC expression can be controlled by tetracycline, we show that in the absence of λ5, the transgenic μHC promotes in vivo differentiation of pro-B cells, induces IL-7-dependent cell growth, and is expressed on the surface of pre-B cells. Our findings not only show that an incomplete pre-BCR can initiate signals, but also challenge the paradigm that an IgHC must associate with an IgLC or a SLC to gain transport and signaling competency.