Impaired Ca2+ mobilization by X-linked agammaglobulinaemia (XLA) B cells in response to ligation of the B cell receptor (BCR)

XLA bone marrow samples were shown to contain B cells expressing IgM, and pre-B cells that express the mu-surrogate light chain (mu psi LC) complex, albeit at a reduced frequency to that found in normal bone marrow. Antibody ligation of mu heavy chain on these cells and an XLA B cell line did not induce a Ca2+ flux, whereas ligation of mu heavy chain on normal bone marrow cells, mu psi LC+ pre-B cell lines and an IgM(+) B cell line did. The block in XLA B cells was not due to a defect in the basic mechanism of Ca2+ flux generation, as the cells responded well to thapsigargin. In addition, the defect did not affect T cells, which were shown to respond to CD3 antibody with a Ca2+ flux. Ligation of mu heavy chain on XLA bone marrow cells did, however, activate tyrosine kinases, resulting in tyrosine phosphorylation of a cellular protein with a molecular weight of approximately 115kD. These results indicate that Btk may be necessary for the generation of the Ca2+ flux in response to ligation of mu heavy chain on B cells and mu psi LC+ pre-B.