Deregulated c-Fos/AP-1 modulates expression of the cyclin and the cdk gene in splenic B cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide.

Overexpression of c-Fos/AP-1 augments proliferation of splenic B cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). To elucidate mechanisms of the augmentation by c-Fos/AP-1, a cell cycle of the LPS-activated B cells from c-fos transgenic mice was analyzed. Cell cycle progression into the S phase was accelerated in the c-fos B cells. Expression of genes related to the cell cycle progression was examined in these B cells. Amount of cyclin D3 and cdk4 mRNA increased in the c-fos B cells at 6 h earlier than that in the control B cells, indicating that the kinetics of these mRNA expressions correlate with the acceleration of cell cycle progression. Furthermore, cyclin D1 and cyclin E mRNA were detected in the c-fos B cells but not in the control B cells. These results indicate that deregulated c-Fos/AP-1 modulates expression of the cyclin and the cdk gene in splenic B cells stimulated with LPS. These modulations may accelerate cell cycle progression and augment proliferation of the B cells.