Anti-CD180 (RP105) Activates B Cells To Rapidly Produce Polyclonal Ig via a T Cell and MyD88-Independent Pathway

CD180 is homologous to TLR4 and regulates TLR4 signaling, yet its function is unclear. We report that injection of anti-CD180 mAb into mice induced rapid Ig production of all classes and subclasses, with the exception of IgA and IgG2b, with up to 50-fold increases in serum IgG1 and IgG3. IgG production after anti-CD180 injection was not due to reactivation of memory B cells and was retained in T cell-deficient (TCR knockout [KO]), CD40 KO, IL-4 KO, and MyD88 KO mice. Anti-CD180 rapidly increased both transitional and mature B cells, with especially robust increases in transitional B cell number, marginal zone B cell proliferation, and CD86, but not CD80, expression. In contrast, anti-CD40 induced primarily follicular B cell and myeloid expansion, with increases in expression of CD80 and CD95 but not CD86. The expansion of splenic B cells was due, in part, to proliferation and occurred in wild-type and TCR KO mice, whereas T cell expansion occurred in wild-type, but not in B cell-deficient, mice, indicating a direct role for B cells in CD180 stimulation in vivo. Combination of anti-CD180 with various MyD88-dependent TLR ligands biased B cell fate because coinjection diminished Ig production, but purified B cells exhibited synergistic proliferation. Anti-CD180 had no effect on cytokine production from B cells, but it increased IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-alpha production in combination with LPS or CpG. Thus, CD180 stimulation induces intrinsic B cell proliferation and differentiation, causing rapid increases in IgG, and integrates MyD88-dependent TLR signals to regulate proliferation, cytokine production, and differentiation. The Journal of Immunology, 2011, 187: 4199-4209.