The role of nuclear factor-κB essential modulator (NEMO) in B cell development and survival

Abstract

The transcription factor nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) is essential for immune and inflammatory responses. NF-κB essential modulator (NEMO) is a scaffolding component of the IκB kinase complex required for NF-κB activation in vitro. Because NF-κB activation is involved in B cell development and function, we set out to determine whether NEMO is required for these processes. NEMO(-/-) mice die very early during embryogenesis, and fetal livers from NEMO(-/-) embryos can not reconstitute either B or T lymphopoiesis in irradiated host mice. We therefore used NEMO(-/-) embryonic stem cells and the OP9 in vitro differentiation system to demonstrate that NEMO is not required for B cell development but plays an important role in B cell survival.