The activation and subsequent regulatory roles of Lyn and CD19 after B cell receptor ligation are independent

The cell surface glycoprotein CD19 and the Src-related protein tyrosine kinase Lyn are key mediators of, respectively, positive and negative signaling in B cells. Despite the apparent opposition of their regulatory functions, a recent model of the biochemical events after B cell receptor (BCR) ligation intimately links the activation of Lyn and CD19. We examined the biochemical consequences of BCR ligation in mouse B cells lacking either Lyn or CD19 for evidence of interaction or codependence. In contrast to published results, we found CD19 phosphorylation after BCR ligation to be unaffected by the absence of Lyn, yet dependent on Src family protein tyrosine kinases as it was inhibited fully by PP2, an Src family-specific inhibitor. Consistent with normal CD19 phosphorylation in lyn^-/- B cells, the recruitment of phosphoinositide-3 kinase to CD19 and the ability of CD19 to enhance both intracellular calcium flux and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 activation after coligation with the BCRs were intact in the absence of Lyn. Similarly, unique functions of Lyn were found to be independent of CD19. CD19^-/- B cells were normal for increased Lyn kinase activity after BCR ligation, inhibition of BCR-mediated calcium flux after CD22 coligation, and inhibition of extracellular signal-regulated kinase phosporylation after FcγRIIB coligation. Collectively, these data show that the unique functions of Lyn do not require CD19 and that the signal amplification mediated by CD19 is independent of Lyn. We conclude that the roles of Lyn and CD19 after BCR ligation are independent and opposing, one being primarily inhibitory and the other stimulatory.