title: [Expression of regulatory B cells in peripheral blood of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the expression of regulatory B cells (Bregs) in peripheral blood of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and elucidate the function of Bregs in the pathogenesis of SLE.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 38 active SLE patients, 22 inactive SLE subjects and 20 healthy controls were enrolled. The expressions of IL-10+ CD19+ Breg and CD19+ CD24hi CD38hi Breg in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were evaluated by flow cytometry. And IL-10 was measured in the culture supermatants by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expression of IL-10+ CD19+ Breg in PBMCs of active SLE patients was (1.54±0.64)%. And it was lower than those in inactive SLE patients (2.42±0.75)% (P<0.01) and healthy controls (4.35±1.00)% (P<0.01). And the expression of CD19+ CD24hi CD38hi Breg was (1.26±0.45)%. Also it was lower than those in inactive SLE subjects (2.01±0.61)% (P<0.01) and healthy controls (3.14±0.87)% (P<0.01).The level of IL-10 significantly decreased in culture supermatants of active SLE patients. And it was lower than those in inactive SLE subjects (P<0.05) and healthy controls (P<0.01). The percentage of IL-10+ CD19+ Breg and CD19+ CD24hi CD38hi Breg in PBMCs of SLE patients was positively correlated with the level of IL-10 in culture supernatants (r=0.652, P<0.01 and r=0.574, P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The expression of IL-10-related Bregs significantly decreases in PBMCs of active SLE patients. And Bregs may play some role in the pathogenesis of SLE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, First Municipal People's Hospital, Guangzhou 510180, China; Email: xycai@medmail.com.cn.
authors.forename: Xiaoyan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Xinying
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xiaojun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Chun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Jinghua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Weinian
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zhixiang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Fangfei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yanli
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D060151:B-Lymphocytes, Regulatory; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic
chemical_list: C508609:IL10 protein, human; D016753:Interleukin-10