RECEPTOR-SPECIFIC INDUCTION OF NF-KAPPA-B COMPONENTS IN PRIMARY B-CELLS

The NF-kappa B transcription factor complex plays a key role in the ex pression of genes involved in immune responses. Nuclear NF-kappa B is induced in B lymphocytes by engagement of either the antigen receptor (sig) or the CD40 receptor for a T cell activation antigen, although d ifferent intracellular pathways appear to be involved. In the present study the protein composition of NF-kappa B complexes triggered by sig and CD40 was probed by electrophoretic mobility shift, supershift, sh ift-Western, and Western blot analyses. At the time of peak NF-kappa B induction (2 h), the NF-kappa B components detected in the complexes induced through sig and through CD40 were the same. However, with cont inued stimulation RelB completely disappeared from anti-Ig-stimulated kappa B binding material, but remained a component of CD40L-induced NF -kappa B. The toss of DNA-binding RelB from anti-Ig-induced NF-kappa B did not result from depletion of RelB from B cell nuclei, suggesting specific regulation of RelB function which is not directly attributed to I kappa B function. These results indicate that NF-kappa B complexe s may undergo protein-specific alterations in a time- and receptor-dep endent fashion that may be associated with differences in the outcomes of B cell stimulation through sig and CD40.