Cytokine-producing B lymphocytes-key regulators of immunity.
The successful use of B cell depletion therapy for the treatment of autoimmune disease has led to a resurgent appreciation of B cells as powerful regulators of immunity. However, to the surprise of many, B cells appear to regulate autoimmune conditions independently of their ability to produce autoantibodies. Indeed, disturbances in the ability of B cell subsets to present antigen, produce cytokines, and regulate the activities of T cells is emerging as a key feature in many inflammatory diseases. Here we review the recent literature describing cytokine-producing regulatory and effector B cell subsets in health and disease and discuss how future B cell-directed therapies might target the pathologic cytokine-producing effector B cell subsets without impacting the protective regulatory subsets.
Lund
Frances E
FE
Trudeau Institute, Saranac Lake, NY 12983, USA. flund@trudeauinstitute.org
D000818:Animals; D015551:Autoimmunity; D016175:B-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D051379:Mice; D018448:Models, Immunological
D016207:Cytokines