BPTF is essential for vaccine-induced germinal center B cell responses

A Alexandria J Sturtz (Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis , St. Louis, MO,) B Birk K Evavold (Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis , St. Louis, MO,) Z Zarifeh Heidari Rarani (University of Pittsburgh) W Wafaa B Alsoussi (Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis , St. Louis, MO,) J Julian Q Zhou (Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis , St. Louis, MO,) H Hanover C Matz (Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis , St. Louis, MO,) H Hiromi Muramatsu (Division of Infectious Diseases, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania) W Wren Simkins (Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis , St. Louis, MO,) S Sameer Kumar Malladi K Katherine M McIntire (Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis , St. Louis, MO,) J Jishnu Das J Jackson S Turner (Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis , St. Louis, MO,) N Norbert Pardi A Ali H Ellebedy (Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis , St. Louis, MO,)

Abstract

Abstract Germinal centers (GCs) are microanatomical structures in which antigen-specific B cells undergo proliferation, somatic hypermutation, and affinity-based competition to select high-affinity clones that differentiate into memory B cells and plasma cells (PCs). B cell progression through the GC is tightly regulated, and the molecular determinants that modulate GC B cell proliferation and survival are still under investigation. Here, we use a conditional deletion mouse model to demonstrate that bromodomain PHD finger transcription factor (BPTF), a subunit of the nucleosome remodeling factor chromatin remodeling complex, is required for robust GC B cell responses following vaccination. In GC B cells, Bptf loss induces a stress-like transcriptional profile and a shift toward PC identity-defining transcriptional programing, although this does not lead to accumulation of functional PCs. Rather, we show that BPTF-deficient GC B cells are prone to cell death. Cumulatively, our data demonstrate that BPTF is necessary for GC B cell maintenance and robust antigen-specific B cell responses.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 215, Issue 6
Published June 07, 2026
ISSN 0022-1767
Publisher American Association of Immunologists

Authors (14)

A

Alexandria J Sturtz

Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis , St. Louis, MO,

B

Birk K Evavold

Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis , St. Louis, MO,

Z

Zarifeh Heidari Rarani

University of Pittsburgh

W

Wafaa B Alsoussi

Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis , St. Louis, MO,

J

Julian Q Zhou

Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis , St. Louis, MO,

H

Hanover C Matz

Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis , St. Louis, MO,

H

Hiromi Muramatsu

Division of Infectious Diseases, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania

W

Wren Simkins

Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis , St. Louis, MO,

S

Sameer Kumar Malladi

K

Katherine M McIntire

Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis , St. Louis, MO,

J

Jishnu Das

J

Jackson S Turner

Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis , St. Louis, MO,

N

Norbert Pardi

A

Ali H Ellebedy

Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis , St. Louis, MO,