Uncovering a way for pro-B cells to change trajectory

By: Erica Moser Date: Oct 16, 2024

Rendering of T cells — Image: iStock/cgtoolbox

Development of B cells, white blood cells that make antibodies, follows a progression of stages: common lymphoid progenitors, pre-pro-B cells, pro-B cells, pre-B cells, immature B cells, and then more mature and specialized B cells. By the time the development hits the pro-B stage, the cell is fated to stay a B cell rather than another type of cell.

But researchers from the School of Veterinary Medicine and Perelman School of Medicine have found that knockout of YY1in pro-B cells impairs this lineage commitment, enabling unusual plasticity in blood cell formation. YY1 is a ubiquitous transcription factor that is capable of both activation and repression functions and plays significant roles in cell proliferation and replication, DNA repair, and the development of embryos.

They found that YY1 knockout pro-B cells can generate T lineage cells—which help B cells produce antibodies—in vitro and in a mouse model. Their findings are published in the journal Genes & Development.

“The data has come out better than my wildest fantasy,” says senior author Michael Atchison, professor of biomedical sciences at Penn Vet. He says of YY1, “Since it’s expressed everywhere and it’s involved with so many lineages, the potential for regenerative medicine is quite high.”

About Penn Vet

Ranked among the top ten veterinary schools worldwide, the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine (Penn Vet) is a global leader in veterinary education, research, and clinical care. Founded in 1884, Penn Vet is the first veterinary school developed in association with a medical school. The school is a proud member of the One Health initiative, linking human, animal, and environmental health.

Penn Vet serves a diverse population of animals at its two campuses, which include extensive diagnostic and research laboratories. Ryan Hospital in Philadelphia provides care for dogs, cats, and other domestic/companion animals, handling more than 34,600 patient visits a year. New Bolton Center, Penn Vet’s large-animal hospital on nearly 700 acres in rural Kennett Square, PA, cares for horses and livestock/farm animals. The hospital handles more than 6,200 patient visits a year, while our Field Services have gone out on more than 5,500 farm service calls, treating some 18,700 patients at local farms. In addition, New Bolton Center’s campus includes a swine center, working dairy, and poultry unit that provide valuable research for the agriculture industry.