The Transcription Factor Early Growth Response 1 (Egr-1) Advances Differentiation of Pre-B and Immature B Cells

In mature B lymphocytes, the zinc finger transcription factor early growth response 1 (Egr-1) is one of the many immediate-early genes induced upon B cell antigen receptor engagement. However, its role during earlier stages of lymphopoiesis has remained unclear. By examining bone marrow B cell subsets, we found Egr-1 transcripts in pro/pre-B and immature B lymphocytes, and Egr-1 protein in pro/pre-B–I cells cultivated on stroma cells in the presence of interleukin (IL)-7. In recombinase-activating gene (RAG)-2–deficient mice overexpressing an Egr-1 transgene in the B lymphocyte lineage, pro/pre-B–I cells could differentiate past a developmental block at the B220(low) BP-1(−) stage to the stage of B220(low) BP-1(+) pre-B–I cells, but not further to the B220(low) BP-1(+) CD25(+) stage of pre-B–II cells. Therefore, during early B lymphopoiesis progression from the B220(low) BP-1(−) IL-2R(−) pro/pre-B–I stage to the B220(low) BP-1(+) IL-2R(+) pre-B–II stage seems to occur in at least two distinct steps, and the first step to the stage of B220(low) BP-1(+) pre-B–I cells can be promoted by the overexpression of Egr-1 alone. Wild-type mice expressing an Egr-1 transgene had increased proportions of mature immunoglobulin (Ig)M(+) B220(high) and decreased proportions of immature IgM(+) B220(low) bone marrow B cells. Since transgenic and control precursor B cells show comparable proliferation patterns, overexpression of Egr-1 seems also to promote entry into the mature B cell stage. Analysis of changes in the expression pattern of potential Egr-1 target genes revealed that Egr-1 enhances the expression of the aminopeptidase BP-1/6C3 in pre-B and immature B cells and upregulates expression of the orphan nuclear receptor nur77 in IgM(+) B cells.