Growth Factor–like Gene Regulation Is Separable from Survival and Maturation in Antibody-Secreting Cells

Recurrent mutational activation of the MAP kinase pathway in plasma cell myeloma implicates growth factor–like signaling responses in the biology of Ab-secreting cells (ASCs). Physiological ASCs survive in niche microenvironments, but how niche signals are propagated and integrated is poorly understood. In this study, we dissect such a response in human ASCs using an in vitro model. Applying time course expression data and parsimonious gene correlation network analysis (PGCNA), a new approach established by our group, we map expression changes that occur during the maturation of proliferating plasmablast to quiescent plasma cell under survival conditions including the potential niche signal TGF-β3. This analysis demonstrates a convergent pattern of differentiation, linking unfolded protein response/endoplasmic reticulum stress to secretory optimization, coordinated with cell cycle exit. TGF-β3 supports ASC survival while having a limited effect on gene expression including upregulation of CXCR4. This is associated with a significant shift in response to SDF1 in ASCs with amplified ERK1/2 activation, growth factor–like immediate early gene regulation and EGR1 protein expression. Similarly, ASCs responding to survival conditions initially induce partially overlapping sets of immediate early genes without sustaining the response. Thus, in human ASCs growth factor–like gene regulation is transiently imposed by niche signals but is not sustained during subsequent survival and maturation.