Regulatory B cells in autoimmune diseases and mucosal immune homeostasis.
B lymphocytes contribute to physiological immunity through organogenesis of secondary lymphoid organs, presentation of antigen to T cells, production of antibodies, and secretion of cytokines. Their role in several autoimmune diseases, mainly as producers of pathogenic antibodies, is also well known. However, certain subsets of B cells are emerging as the important regulatory cell populations in both mouse and human. The regulatory functions of B cells have been demonstrated in a variety of mouse models of autoimmune diseases including collagen-induced arthritis (CIA), experiment autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), anterior chamber-associated immune deviation (ACAID), diabetes, contact hypersensitivity (CHS), and intestinal mucosal inflammation. Accumulating evidence from both mouse and human studies confirms the existence of regulatory B cells, and is beginning to define their mechanisms of action. In this article, we first review the history of B cells with regulatory function in autoimmune diseases, and summarize the current understanding about the characterizations of such B-cell subsets. We then discuss the possible regulatory mechanisms of B cells, and specifically define the role of regulatory B cells in immune homeostasis in the intestine.
Li
Xiaoxiao
X
Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, California, CA 90095, USA.
Braun
Jonathan
J
Wei
Bo
B
D000818:Animals; D017951:Antigen Presentation; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D016175:B-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D018928:Immunity, Mucosal; D051379:Mice
D001323:Autoantibodies; D016207:Cytokines