BANK negatively regulates Akt activation and subsequent B cell responses

Abstract

BANK is an adaptor protein that is highly expressed in B cells. To investigate its physiological role, we generated BANK-deficient mice. BANK-deficient mice displayed enhanced germinal center formation and IgM production in response to T-dependent antigens, whereas this phenotype was blocked in CD40-BANK double knockout mice. Involvement of BANK in CD40 signaling was further demonstrated by in vitro analysis. CD40-mediated proliferation and survival were significantly increased in BANK-deficient B cells, with enhanced Akt activation, whereas introduction of dominant-negative Akt into BANK-deficient B cells suppressed the augmented CD40-mediated responses. Together, our findings suggest that BANK attenuates CD40-mediated Akt activation, thereby preventing hyperactive B cell responses.