title: Cutting edge: direct suppression of B cells by CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cells.
abstract: Regulatory T cells (Tregs) can potentially migrate to the B cell areas of secondary lymphoid tissues and suppress T cell-dependent B cell Ig response. T cell-dependent Ig response requires B cell stimulation by Th cells. It has been unknown whether Tregs can directly suppress B cells or whether they must suppress Th cells to suppress B cell response. We report here that Foxp3+ Tregs are found in T-B area borders and within germinal centers of human lymphoid tissues and can directly suppress B cell Ig response. Although Tregs can effectively suppress T cells, they can also directly suppress B cell response without the need to first suppress Th cells. The direct suppression of B cell Ig production by Tregs is accompanied by inhibition of Ig class switch recombination.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Immunology and Hematopoiesis, Department of Pathobiology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
authors.forename: Hyung W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hillsamer
authors.forename: Allison H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Banham
authors.forename: Chang H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D017578:Immunoglobulin Class Switching / Q000276:immunology; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2