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KMID : 1161520080120030127
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Animal Cells and Systems
2008 Volume.12 No. 3 p.127 ~ p.136
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A possible physiological role of caspase-11 during germinal center reaction
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Kang Shin-Jung
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Abstract
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Caspase?11 has been known as a dual regulator of cytokine maturation and apoptosis. Although the role of caspase?11 under pathological conditions has been well documented, its physiological role has not been studied much. In the present study, we investigated a possible physiological function of caspase?11 during immune response. In the absence of caspase?11, immunized spleen displayed increased cellularity and abnormal germinal center structure with disrupted microarchitecture. The rate of cell proliferation and apoptosis in the immunized spleen was not changed in the caspase?11?deficient mice. Furthermore, the caspase?11?deficient peritoneal macrophages showed normal phagocytotic activity. However, caspase?11?/? splenocytes and macrophages showed defective migrating capacity. The dysregulation of cell migration did not seem to be mediated by caspase?3, interleukin?1α or interleukin?1β which acts downstream of caspase?11. These results suggest that a direct regulation of immune cell migration by caspase?11 is critical for the formation of germinal center microarchitecture during immune response. However, humoral immunity in the caspase?11?deficient mice was normal, suggesting the formation of germinal center structure is not essential for the affinity maturation of the antibodies.
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KEYWORD
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caspase-11, germinal center reaction, immune response, immune cell migration
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