Expression of human complement receptor type 2 (CD21) in mice during early B cell development results in a reduction in mature B cells and hypogammaglobulinemia

Complement receptor (CR) type 2 (CR2/CD21) is normally expressed only during the immature and mature stages of B cell development. In association with CD19, CR2 plays an important role in enhancing mature B cell responses to foreign Ag. We used a murine Vlambda2 promoter/Vlambda2-4 enhancer minigene to develop transgenic mice that initiate expression of human CR2 (hCR2) during the CD43(+)CD25(-) late pro-B cell stage of development. We found peripheral blood B cell numbers reduced by 60% in mice expressing high levels of hCR2 and by 15% in mice with intermediate receptor expression. Splenic B cell populations were altered with an expansion of marginal zone cells, and basal serum IgG levels as well as T-dependent immune responses were also significantly decreased in transgenic mice. Mice expressing the highest levels of hCR2 demonstrated in the bone marrow a slight increase in B220(int)CD43(+)CD25(-) B cells in association with a substantial decrease in immature and mature B cells, indicative of a developmental block in the pro-B cell stage. These data demonstrate that stage-specific expression of CR2 is necessary for normal B cell development, as premature receptor expression substantially alters this process. Alterations in B cell development are most likely due to engagement of pre-B cell receptor-mediated or other regulatory pathways by hCR2 in a CD19- and possibly C3 ligand-dependent manner.