Cell
Volume 79, Issue 5, 2 December 1994, Pages 885-892
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Article
E2A proteins are required for proper B cell development and initiation of immunoglobulin gene rearrangements

https://doi.org/10.1016/0092-8674(94)90077-9Get rights and content

Abstract

E12 and E47 are two helix-loop-helix transcription factors that arise by alternative splicing of the E2A gene. Both have been implicated in the regulation of immunoglobulin gene expression. We have now generated E2A (−/−) mice by gene targeting. E2A-null mutant mice fail to generate mature B cells. The arrest of B cell development occurs at an early stage, since no immunoglobulin DJ rearrangements can be detected in homozygous mutant mice. While immunoglobulin germline Iμ RAG-1, mb-1, CD19, and λ5 transcripts are dramatically reduced in fetal livers of E2A (−/−) mice, B29 and μ° transcripts are present, but at lower levels. In addition, we show that Pax-5 transcripts are significantly reduced in fetal livers of E2A (−/−) mice. These data suggest a crucial role for E2A products as central regulators in early B cell differentiation.

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