# Very early plasma cell differentiation

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA · 2020 · $76,919

## Abstract

Abstract
The biochemical pathways through which activated B cells initiate antibody synthesis
and secretion while simultaneously undergoing cell division are unknown. Current
models predict that early plasma cells generate the organelle structures needed for
robust antibody secretion by activating the unfolded protein response (UPR) in response
to increased antibody synthesis and through a mitosis-dependent process. This project
centers on an alternative model where activated B cells prepare for plasma cell function
by enacting the UPR well before increased antibody synthesis and independently of
mitosis. Hence we propose that induction of the UPR in B cells is as much proactive as it
is reactive. We will test this new model while also dissecting the past observations that
marginal zone B cells generate plasma cells much faster than most B cells. We propose
three specific aims: 1) Define biochemical pathways coordinating very early PC
differentiation, 2) Define the role of constitutive mTORC1 signaling in MZ B cell
differentiation, and 3) Uncouple mitosis and early PC differentiation.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10157788
- **Project number:** 3R01AI139123-03S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
- **Principal Investigator:** YAIR ARGON
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $76,919
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2018-05-25 → 2023-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10157788

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10157788, Very early plasma cell differentiation (3R01AI139123-03S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10157788. Licensed CC0.

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