Cross-linking of antigen receptor via Ig-beta (B29, CD79b) can induce both positive and negative signals in CD40-activated human B cells.

Antigen-dependent activation of B lymphocytes is mediated through surface immunoglobulins and their associated molecules Ig-alpha (CD79a, Mb1) and Ig-beta (CD79b, B29). Here we show that an antibody directed against the extracellular part of human Ig-beta can, when cross-linked by CD32-transfected L cells, induce an IL-2-dependent proliferation of tonsil B cells. With the use of L cells stably transfected with both CD32 and CD40L, anti-Ig-beta activation of B cells was combined with CD40 triggering, an important component of the T cell-dependent B cell activation. This dual cellular activation resulted in two different phases, with initially synergistic proliferative effects, both without and with IL-2 or IL-10. Then, after 5-6 days of culture, cells stimulated with both anti-Ig-beta and CD40L underwent massive cell death, in contrast to B cells activated with CD40L alone. Cell death was not prevented by the addition of IL-2 or IL-10, but was prevented by the addition of IL-4. These results are discussed in the context of positive and negative selection of mature B cells.