title: What do we know about the role of regulatory B cells (Breg) during the course of infection of two major parasitic diseases, malaria and leishmaniasis?
abstract: Parasitic diseases, such as malaria and leishmaniasis, are relevant public health problems worldwide. For both diseases, the alarming number of clinical cases and deaths reported annually has justified the incentives directed to better understanding of host's factors associated with susceptibility to infection or protection. In this context, over recent years, some studies have given special attention to B lymphocytes with a regulator phenotype, known as Breg cells. Essentially important in the maintenance of immunological tolerance, especially in autoimmune disease models such as rheumatoid arthritis and experimentally induced autoimmune encephalomyelitis, the function of these lymphocytes has so far been poorly explored during the course of diseases caused by parasites. As the activation of Breg cells has been proposed as a possible therapeutic or vaccine strategy against several diseases, here we reviewed studies focused on understanding the relation of parasite and Breg cells in malaria and leishmaniasis, and the possible implications of these strategies in the course of both infections.
authors.affiliation: a Departement of Parasitology, Microbiology and Immunology , Federal University of Juiz de Fora , Juiz de fora , Brazil.
authors.forename: Roberta Reis
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.affiliation: a Departement of Parasitology, Microbiology and Immunology , Federal University of Juiz de Fora , Juiz de fora , Brazil.
authors.forename: Luciana Maria Ribeiro
authors.initials: LMR
authors.lastname: Antinarelli
authors.affiliation: a Departement of Parasitology, Microbiology and Immunology , Federal University of Juiz de Fora , Juiz de fora , Brazil.
authors.forename: Clarice
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Abramo
authors.affiliation: a Departement of Parasitology, Microbiology and Immunology , Federal University of Juiz de Fora , Juiz de fora , Brazil.
authors.forename: Gilson Costa
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Macedo
authors.affiliation: a Departement of Parasitology, Microbiology and Immunology , Federal University of Juiz de Fora , Juiz de fora , Brazil.
authors.forename: Elaine Soares
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Coimbra
authors.affiliation: a Departement of Parasitology, Microbiology and Immunology , Federal University of Juiz de Fora , Juiz de fora , Brazil.
authors.forename: Kézia Katiani Gorza
authors.initials: KKG
authors.lastname: Scopel
mesh_terms: D060151:B-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007891:Leishmania / Q000276:immunology*; D007896:Leishmaniasis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology; D008288:Malaria / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology; D010961:Plasmodium / Q000276:immunology*
keywords: B regulatory cells; cytokines; immunity; immunological tolerance; immunomodulation; leishmaniasis; malaria; protozoan infections