A B cell receptor with two Igα cytoplasmic domains supports development of mature but anergic B cells

B cell receptor (BCR) signaling is mediated through immunoglobulin (Ig)alpha and Igbeta a membrane-bound heterodimer. Igalpha and Igbeta are redundant in their ability to support early B cell development, but their roles in mature B cells have not been defined. To examine the function of Igalpha-Igbeta in mature B cells in vivo we exchanged the cytoplasmic domain of Iga for the cytoplasmic domain of Igbeta by gene targeting (Igbeta(c)-->alpha(c) mice). Igbeta(c)-->alpha(c) B cells had lower levels of surface IgM and higher levels of BCR internalization than wild-type B cells. The mutant B cells were able to complete all stages of development and were long lived, but failed to differentiate into B1a cells. In addition, Igbeta(c-->)alpha(c) B cells showed decreased proliferative and Ca2+ responses to BCR stimulation in vitro, and were anergic to T-independent and -dependent antigens in vivo.