When B cells encounter membrane-bound antigens, the formation and coalescence of B cell antigen receptor (BCR) microclusters amplifies BCR signaling. The ability of B cells to probe the surface of antigen-presenting cells (APCs) and respond to APC-bound antigens requires remodeling of the actin cytoskeleton. Initial BCR signaling stimulates actin-related protein (Arp) 2/3 complex-dependent actin polymerization, which drives B cell spreading as well as the centripetal movement and coalescence of BCR microclusters at the B cell-APC synapse. Sustained actin polymerization depends on concomitant actin filament depolymerization, which enables the recycling of actin monomers and Arp2/3 complexes. Cofilin-mediated severing of actin filaments is a rate-limiting step in the morphological changes that occur during immune synapse formation. Hence, regulators of cofilin activity such as WD repeat-containing protein 1 (Wdr1), LIM domain kinase (LIMK), and coactosin-like 1 (Cotl1) may also be essential for actin-dependent processes in B cells. Wdr1 enhances cofilin-mediated actin disassembly. Conversely, Cotl1 competes with cofilin for binding to actin and LIMK phosphorylates cofilin and prevents it from binding to actin filaments. We now show that Wdr1 and LIMK have distinct roles in BCR-induced assembly of the peripheral actin structures that drive B cell spreading, and that cofilin, Wdr1, and LIMK all contribute to the actin-dependent amplification of BCR signaling at the immune synapse. Depleting Cotl1 had no effect on these processes. Thus, the Wdr1-LIMK-cofilin axis is critical for BCR-induced actin remodeling and for B cell responses to APC-bound antigens.

Signaling by the B cell antigen receptor (BCR) initiates actin remodeling. The assembly of branched actin networks that are nucleated by the Arp2/3 complex exert outward force on the plasma membrane, allowing B cells to form membrane protrusions that can scan the surface of antigen-presenting cells (APCs). The resulting Arp2/3 complex-dependent actin retrograde flow promotes the centripetal movement and progressive coalescence of BCR microclusters, which amplifies BCR signaling. Glia maturation factor γ (GMFγ) is an actin disassembly-protein that releases Arp2/3 complex-nucleated actin filaments from actin networks. By doing so, GMFγ could either oppose the actions of the Arp2/3 complex or support Arp2/3 complex-nucleated actin polymerization by contributing to the recycling of actin monomers and Arp2/3 complexes. We now show that reducing the levels of GMFγ in human B cell lines via transfection with a specific siRNA impairs the ability of B cells to spread on antigen-coated surfaces, decreases the velocity of actin retrograde flow, diminishes the coalescence of BCR microclusters into a central cluster at the B cell-APC contact site, and decreases APC-induced BCR signaling. These effects of depleting GMFγ are similar to what occurs when the Arp2/3 complex is inhibited. This suggests that GMFγ cooperates with the Arp2/3 complex to support BCR-induced actin remodeling and amplify BCR signaling at the immune synapse.