Protein kinase Cδ is essential for the IgG response against T cell-independent type 2 antigens and commensal bacteria

Antigens (Ags) with multivalent and repetitive structure elicit IgG production in a T cell-independent manner. However, the mechanisms by which such T cell-independent type-2 (TI-2) Ags induce IgG responses remain obscure. Here we report that BCR engagement with a TI-2 Ag but not with a T cell-dependent (TD) Ag was able to induce the transcription of Aicda encoding activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID) and efficient class switching to IgG3 upon co-stimulation with IL-1 or IFN-α in mouse B cells. TI-2 Ags strongly induced the phosphorylation of protein kinase C (PKC)δ and PKCδ mediated the Aicda transcription through the induction of BATF, the key transcriptional regulator of Aicda. In PKCδ-deficient mice, production of IgG was intact against TD Ag but abrogated against typical TI-2 Ags as well as commensal bacteria, and experimental disruption of the gut epithelial barrier resulted in fatal bacteremia. Thus, our results have revealed novel molecular requirements for class-switching in the TI-2 response and highlighted its importance in homeostatic commensal-specific IgG production.