title: The role of regulatory B cells in digestive system diseases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The past decade has provided striking insights into a newly identified subset of B cells known as regulatory B cells (Bregs). In addition to producing antibody, Bregs also regulate diseases via cytokine production and antigen presentation. This subset of B cells has protective and potentially therapeutic effects. However, the particularity of Bregs has caused some difficulties in conducting research on their roles. Notably, human B10 cells, which are Bregs that produce interleukin 10, share phenotypic characteristics with other previously defined B cell subsets, and currently, there is no known surface phenotype that is unique to B10 cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  An online search was performed in the PubMed and Web of Science databases for articles published providing evidences on the role of regulatory B cells in digestive system diseases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Abundant evidence has demonstrated that Bregs play a regulatory role in inflammatory, autoimmune, and tumor diseases, and regulatory B cells play different roles in different diseases, but future work needs to determine the mechanisms by which Bregs are activated and how these cells affect their target cells.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Wuxi No.2 Hospital Affiliated with Nanjing Medical University, Zhong Shan Road 68, Wuxi, Jiang Su Province, China.
authors.forename: Zhenyu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Wuxi No.2 Hospital Affiliated with Nanjing Medical University, Zhong Shan Road 68, Wuxi, Jiang Su Province, China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Wuxi No.2 Hospital Affiliated with Nanjing Medical University, Zhong Shan Road 68, Wuxi, Jiang Su Province, China. xiaoyunwang68@aliyun.com.
authors.forename: Xiaoyun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Wuxi No.2 Hospital Affiliated with Nanjing Medical University, Zhong Shan Road 68, Wuxi, Jiang Su Province, China.
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Wuxi No.2 Hospital Affiliated with Nanjing Medical University, Zhong Shan Road 68, Wuxi, Jiang Su Province, China.
authors.forename: Gaojue
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Wuxi No.2 Hospital Affiliated with Nanjing Medical University, Zhong Shan Road 68, Wuxi, Jiang Su Province, China.
authors.forename: Xuejun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Wuxi No.2 Hospital Affiliated with Nanjing Medical University, Zhong Shan Road 68, Wuxi, Jiang Su Province, China.
authors.forename: Xiaobin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Wuxi No.2 Hospital Affiliated with Nanjing Medical University, Zhong Shan Road 68, Wuxi, Jiang Su Province, China.
authors.forename: Shuan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Wuxi No.2 Hospital Affiliated with Nanjing Medical University, Zhong Shan Road 68, Wuxi, Jiang Su Province, China.
authors.forename: Miao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Wuxi No.2 Hospital Affiliated with Nanjing Medical University, Zhong Shan Road 68, Wuxi, Jiang Su Province, China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Feng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D060151:B-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*; D004066:Digestive System Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans
keywords: Adaptive immunity; Digestive system diseases; IL-10; Regulatory B cells