Background: Chemokine (C-C motif) receptor 2 (CCR2) contributes to autoimmune pathogenesis. However, the effect of CCR2 on B cell signaling and its role in autoimmunity remains unclear. Herein, we investigated the role of CCR2 in the B cell receptor (BCR) signaling pathway and aimed to illustrate its potential molecular mechanisms of action. Methods: To investigate the alterations in B cell signaling and the immune response, we used flow cytometry, western blotting, microscopic techniques, Seahorse assay, and immunofluorescence assay on samples from C57BL/6 mice and germinal CCR2-deletion mice. Results: The absence of CCR2 disturbed follicular B cell development. Furthermore, CCR2 absence was correlated with increased mTORC1-mediated energy metabolism and enhanced early B cell activation, which were induced by the up-regulation of BCR proximal signaling and F-actin accumulation. Mst1 and STAT1 were key factors in up-regulating the B cell activation in CCR2 deficient mice. The disrupted peripheral B cell differentiation and enhanced B cell signaling were associated with the inhibition mTORC1, Mst1, and STAT1. Moreover, loss of CCR2 caused a weakened T cell dependent antigen response, resulting in decreased antibody secreting cells and diminished antigen specific IgM levels. Conclusion: CCR2 is involved in the regulation of BCR signaling pathway by sequentially activating signaling pathways dominated by Mst1, mTORC1, and STAT1. Our study suggests that CCR2 might represent a novel therapeutic targeted for autoimmune diseases.

Background: Although the importance of ectopic lymphoid tissues (eLTs) in the pathophysiology of nasal polyps (NPs) is increasingly appreciated, the mechanisms underlying their formation remain unclear. Objective: To study the role of IL-17A, CXCL13 and lymphotoxin (LT) in eLT formation in NPs. Methods: The expression of CXCL13 and LT as well as their receptors, and the phenotypes of stromal cells in NPs were studied by flow cytometry, immunostaining, and RT-PCR. Purified nasal stromal cells and polyp B cells were cultured and a murine model with nasal type 17 inflammation was established for the mechanistic study. Results: Excessive CXCL13 production was found in NPs and correlated with enhanced IL-17A expression. Stromal cells, with an expansion of CD31-Pdpn+ fibroblastic reticular cell (FRC) type, were the major source of CXCL13 in NPs without eLTs. IL-17A induced FRC expansion and CXCL13 production in nasal stromal cells. In contrast, B cells were the main source of CXCL13 and LTα1β2 in NPs with eLTs. CXCL13 upregulated LTα1β2 expression on polyp B cells, which in turn promoted CXCL13 production from polyp B cells and nasal stromal cells. LTα1β2 induced expansion of FRCs and CD31+Pdpn+ lymphoid endothelial cells, corresponding to the phenotypic characteristic of stromal cells in NPs with eLTs. IL-17A gene knockout, and CXCL13 and LTβR blockage diminished nasal eLT formation in the murine model. Conclusion: We identified an important role of IL-17A-induced stromal cell remodeling in the initiation, and crosstalk between B and stromal cells via CXCL13 and LTα1β2 in the enlargement of eLTs in NPs.