Premium accounts now available! Sign up and create a premium account. Read more Close

Advertisement

Image

Altered PI3K-PTEN balance promotes preferential killing of human IgE+ plasma cells by BCR crosslinking

Preprint Created on 01 Jun 2026 bioRxiv

Immunoglobulin E (IgE) drives allergic disease, yet what restrains the persistence of IgE production remains poorly understood. Mouse studies suggest that BCR-induced apoptosis limits the survival of IgE-producing plasma cells (PCs). Whether this mechanism applies to human IgE PCs is unclear. Using a human IgE class-switching system, we show that BCR crosslinking preferentially kills IgE PCs compared to IgG1+ PCs. However, this selective sensitivity is not explained by surface BCR levels or proximal BCR signaling as suggested in mice. Instead, elevated PTEN expression in IgE PCs constrains PI3K/Akt pro-survival signaling and lowers the apoptotic threshold by upregulating BIM, while JNK signaling sustains PTEN expression and amplifies their apoptotic sensitivity. CRISPR/Cas9 targeting of PTEN or BIM, or JNK inhibition protects IgE PCs from BCR-mediated killing. Therapeutic anti-IgE antibodies, including omalizumab and extracellular membrane-proximal domain (EMPD)-targeting antibodies, exploit this sensitivity to selectively eliminate IgE PCs and suppress IgE production, providing a mechanistic rationale for depleting IgE PCs in allergic disease.

Ramadani, F., Tolarova, H., Tooki Chu, S. W., Thomas, C., Ohm-Laursen, L., Tolar, P.

Advertisement

Stats

  • Recommendations n/a n/a positive of 0 vote(s)
  • Views 4
  • Comments 0

Recommended by

  • No recommendations yet.

Post a comment

You need to be signed in to post comments. You can sign in here.

Comments

There are no comments yet.

Advertisement