title: IL-10 production in B cells is confined to CD154+ cells in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: The immunological hallmark of SLE is B cell hyperactivity. CD154 (CD40-L) is normally expressed in activated T cells, and plays an important role in T-B interactions. Its expression is increased in SLE T cells. Additionally, its expression on B cells leads to the development of SLE-like disease in a transgenic model. IL-10 is a key cytokine in the disturbed SLE immune system. The aim of this work was to explore the relation between IL-10 and CD154 expression in SLE B cells. We studied 11 SLE patients and 10 healthy volunteers. Mononuclear cells were isolated from peripheral blood and cultured in the presence or absence of Cowan I Strain Staphylococcus (CSS). Surface CD154 and intracytoplasmic IL-10 expression were quantified with flow cytometry. In basal conditions, CD154 expression was not different in patients and controls. B cell stimulation did not cause a significant increase in CD154 expression in control B cells. However, its expression increased 2 times in B cells obtained from SLE patients. IL-10 expression was confined to CD154(+) cells. Our results show that IL-10 production is intimately linked to CD154 expression in B cells, and that the IL-10(+)CD154(+) B cell subset increases abnormally when SLE-derived cells are stimulated with CSS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology and Rheumatology, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Vasco de Quiroga 15, Tlalpan 14000, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Díaz-Alderete
authors.forename: José C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Crispin
authors.forename: María Inés
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Vargas-Rojas
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alcocer-Varela
mesh_terms: D016175:B-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D023201:CD40 Ligand / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D018956:CD5 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D018956:CD5 Antigens; D016753:Interleukin-10; D023201:CD40 Ligand