Bach2 Promotes B Cell Receptor-Induced Proliferation of B Lymphocytes and Represses Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitors [MOLECULAR AND STRUCTURAL IMMUNOLOGY]

BTB and CNC homology 2 (Bach2) is a transcriptional repressor that is required for the formation of the germinal center (GC) and reactions, including class switch recombination and somatic hypermutation of Ig genes in B cells, within the GC. Although BCR-induced proliferation is essential for GC reactions, the function of Bach2 in regulating B cell proliferation has not been elucidated. In this study, we demonstrate that Bach2 is required to sustain high levels of B cell proliferation in response to BCR signaling. Following BCR engagement in vitro, B cells from Bach2-deficient (Bach2^–/–) mice showed lower incorporation of BrdU and reduced cell cycle progression compared with wild-type cells. Bach2^–/– B cells also underwent increased apoptosis, as evidenced by an elevated frequency of sub-G₁ cells and early apoptotic cells. Transcriptome analysis of BCR-engaged B cells from Bach2^–/– mice revealed reduced expression of the antiapoptotic gene Bcl2l1 encoding Bcl-x_L and elevated expression of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor (CKI) family genes, including Cdkn1a, Cdkn2a, and Cdkn2b. Reconstitution of Bcl-x_L expression partially rescued the proliferation defect of Bach2^–/– B cells. Chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments showed that Bach2 bound to the CKI family genes, indicating that these genes are direct repression targets of Bach2. These findings identify Bach2 as a requisite factor for sustaining high levels of BCR-induced proliferation, survival, and cell cycle progression, and it promotes expression of Bcl-x_L and repression of CKI genes. BCR-induced proliferation defects may contribute to the impaired GC formation observed in Bach2^–/– mice.

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