The IgM receptor FcμR limits tonic BCR signaling by regulating expression of the IgM BCR

FcμR serves as a receptor for soluble IgM. Baumgarth and colleagues show that intracellular FcμR constrains the surface expression of IgM. Lack of FcμR alters B cell populations and enhances autoantibody production. FcμR thereby serves as a critical regulator of B cell homeostasis. The FcμR receptor for the crystallizable fragment (Fc) of immunoglobulin M (IgM) can function as a cell-surface receptor for secreted IgM on a variety of cell types. We found here that FcμR was also expressed in the trans-Golgi network of developing B cells, where it constrained transport of the IgM-isotype BCR (IgM-BCR) but not of the IgD-isotype BCR (IgD-BCR). In the absence of FcμR, the surface expression of IgM-BCR was increased, which resulted in enhanced tonic BCR signaling. B-cell-specific deficiency in FcμR enhanced the spontaneous differentiation of B-1 cells, which resulted in increased serum concentrations of natural IgM and dysregulated homeostasis of B-2 cells; this caused the spontaneous formation of germinal centers, increased titers of serum autoantibodies and excessive accumulation of B cells. Thus, FcμR serves as a critical regulator of B cell biology by constraining the transport and cell-surface expression of IgM-BCR.