Minor Splicing Factor RNPC3 Is Essential for the Germinal Center B Cell Response

Germinal center (GC) response ensures the generation of diverse and high-affinity antibodies during the T cell-dependent (TD) immune response. This process is controlled by coordinated transcriptional and posttranscriptional gene regulatory mechanisms. Minor intron splicing is known to be involved in posttranscriptional regulation of gene expression. RNA-binding region (RNP1, RRM) containing 3 (RNPC3) is a minor spliceosome component involved in stabilizing the U11/U12 di-snRNP complex, which is essential for minor intron splicing. However, it remains unclear if RNPC3 and RNPC3-related gene regulatory mechanisms are important for the TD immune response. In this study, we conditionally ablated RNPC3 in activated B cells and showed that the mutant mice had defective antibody generation due to impaired GC B cell response. We demonstrate that RNPC3 deficiency inhibits the proliferation and promotes the apoptosis of activated B cells. Mechanistically, we show that RNPC3 regulates the development of GC B cells in a minor spliceosome-dependent manner by controlling the removal of minor introns from minor intron-containing genes associated with cell proliferation and apoptosis. Our study thus uncovers a previously unappreciated role for RNPC3 in regulating GC B cell response.

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Publication Details

Journal
European Journal of Immunology
Published
2025-04-01
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/eji.202451508
Citations
2
Primary Topic
RNA Research and Splicing
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
1.61

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article

Minor Splicing Factor RNPC3 Is Essential for the Germinal Center B Cell Response

Hengjun Huang, Shengli Xu, Meiyuan Chen, Ling Guo et al.
2 citations
European Journal of Immunology
RNA Research and Splicing
1.61
article

Minor Splicing Factor RNPC3 Is Essential for the Germinal Center B Cell Response

Hengjun Huang, Shengli Xu, Meiyuan Chen, Ling Guo, Gui‐Xin Ruan, Yan Li, Ruisi Wang, Xijun Ou, Jing Wang, Rui Zhang, Yuxing Li, Zhijian Zhu, Xiong Xiao, Wenjing Chen
article en
2 citations

Abstract

Germinal center (GC) response ensures the generation of diverse and high-affinity antibodies during the T cell-dependent (TD) immune response. This process is controlled by coordinated transcriptional and posttranscriptional gene regulatory mechanisms. Minor intron splicing is known to be involved in posttranscriptional regulation of gene expression. RNA-binding region (RNP1, RRM) containing 3 (RNPC3) is a minor spliceosome component involved in stabilizing the U11/U12 di-snRNP complex, which is essential for minor intron splicing. However, it remains unclear if RNPC3 and RNPC3-related gene regulatory mechanisms are important for the TD immune response. In this study, we conditionally ablated RNPC3 in activated B cells and showed that the mutant mice had defective antibody generation due to impaired GC B cell response. We demonstrate that RNPC3 deficiency inhibits the proliferation and promotes the apoptosis of activated B cells. Mechanistically, we show that RNPC3 regulates the development of GC B cells in a minor spliceosome-dependent manner by controlling the removal of minor introns from minor intron-containing genes associated with cell proliferation and apoptosis. Our study thus uncovers a previously unappreciated role for RNPC3 in regulating GC B cell response.

European Journal of ImmunologyVol. 55(4)
Agency for Science, Technology and Research (SG), University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (CN), National University of Singapore (SG), Singapore Immunology Network (SG), Southern University of Science and Technology (CN), Lanzhou Jiaotong University (CN), Chengdu Women's and Children's Central Hospital (CN), China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences (CN), Southern Medical University Shenzhen Hospital (CN), Taizhou University (CN)
National Natural Science Foundation of China, National Key Research and Development Program of China
Good health and well-being
Openalex Percentile: Top 18%
RNA Research and Splicing
1.61
DOISourceOpenAlex
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