The role of regulatory B cells in the homeostasis of regulatory T cells and Th17 cells in patients with systemic sclerosis

Mediterranean Journal of Rheumatology

ARTICLE

Athanasios Mavropoulos¹  George Efthymiou¹  Dimitrios P. Bogdanos¹  Lazaros I. Sakkas¹ 

[1] Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly and University General Hospital of Larissa

关键词: Tregs;    Bregs;    Th17;    systemic sclerosis;   

DOI  :  10.31138/mjr.27.3.119

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: PCO Convin S.A.

【 摘 要 】

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is characterized by fibrosis, activation of the immune system and microvasculopathy.1-8 In recent years, regulatory B cells (Bregs) have been shown to play an important role in the development of autoimmune diseases. The breakdown of immunological tolerance is characterized by the predominance of autoreactive B cells and the lack of Bregs.9-10 Bregs include CD19 (+) CD24 (high) CD38 (high) (transitional Bregs) and memory Bregs. These cells suppress the activity of other cells mainly through the induction of interleukin-10 (IL-10).11 The role of Bregs has been investigated in murine models of experimental autoimmune diseases and human studies of various autoimmune diseases. In SSc there is a disturbance of homeostasis of B cells with evidence of hyperactivation of B cells producing pathogenic autoantibodies.12 Our research group has recently showed insufficiency of Bregs in patients with SScl.13 In particular, both transitional Bregs and memory Bregs are numerically decreased, more profoundly in diffuse than limited cutaneous form of the disease. Interestingly, patients with SSc-associated pulmonary fibrosis have near total lack of transitional and memory Bregs.13 Furthermore, there is functional impairment of Bregs (inability to produce IL-10)13.

【 授权许可】

CC BY-NC