Lack of nuclear factor-κB2/p100 causes a RelB-dependent block in early B lymphopoiesis

Abstract

Abstract Nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) transcription factors regulate B-cell development and survival. However, whether they also have a role during early steps of B-cell differentiation is largely unclear. Here, we show that constitutive activation of the alternative NF-κB pathway in p100−/− knockin mice resulted in a block of early B-cell development at the transition from the pre–pro-B to the pro–B-cell stage due to enhanced RelB activity. Expression of the essential B-cell transcription factors EBF and in particular Pax5 was reduced in p100−/− B-cell precursors in a RelB-dependent manner, resulting in reduced mRNA levels of B lineage-specific genes. Moreover, enhanced RelB function in p100−/− B-cell precursors was accompanied by increased expression of B lineage–inappropriate genes, such as C/EBPα, correlating with a markedly increased myeloid differentiation potential of p100−/− progenitor B cells. Ectopic expression of Pax5 in hematopoietic progenitors restored early B-cell development in p100−/− bone marrow, suggesting that impaired early B lymphopoiesis in mice lacking the p100 inhibitor may be due to down-regulation of Pax5 expression. Thus, tightly controlled p100 processing and RelB activation is essential for normal B lymphopoiesis and lymphoid/myeloid lineage decision in bone marrow.