Tim‐1+ B cells suppress T cell interferon‐gamma production and promote Foxp3 expression, but have impaired regulatory function in coronary artery disease

XL Gu, H He, L Lin, GX Luo, YF Wen, DC Xiang, J Qiu - Apmis, 2017 - Wiley Online Library
XL Gu, H He, L Lin, GX Luo, YF Wen, DC Xiang, J Qiu
Apmis, 2017Wiley Online Library
Atherosclerosis and its associated coronary artery disease (CAD) represent another chronic
low‐grade inflammatory disorder. Regulatory B cells (Bregs) possess essential functions in
maintaining peripheral tolerance and inhibiting pathogenic inflammation through IL‐10.
Here, we investigated one subset of Bregs, Tim‐1+ B cell, and its role in atherosclerosis and
CAD patients. In healthy individuals, IL‐10‐producing B cells were predominantly found in
the Tim‐1+ B cells. Upon stimulation of the B cell receptor (BCR) and Toll‐like receptor 9 …
Atherosclerosis and its associated coronary artery disease (CAD) represent another chronic low‐grade inflammatory disorder. Regulatory B cells (Bregs) possess essential functions in maintaining peripheral tolerance and inhibiting pathogenic inflammation through IL‐10. Here, we investigated one subset of Bregs, Tim‐1+ B cell, and its role in atherosclerosis and CAD patients. In healthy individuals, IL‐10‐producing B cells were predominantly found in the Tim‐1+ B cells. Upon stimulation of the B cell receptor (BCR) and Toll‐like receptor 9 (TLR‐9) by anti‐BCR antibodies and CpG, respectively, the Tim‐1+ B cells could further upregulate IL‐10 expression. In contrast, the Tim‐1+ B cells were present at normal frequency in CAD patients, but showed impaired capacity to upregulate IL‐10 with or without BCR + CpG stimulation. The stimulated Tim‐1+ B cells from healthy individuals also suppressed expression of interferon gamma (IFN‐γ), an atherogenic cytokine in T cells, in an IL‐10‐dependent fashion, and strongly promoted the expression of Foxp3 in naive CD4+CD45RO T cells. In contrast, the Tim‐1+ B cells from CAD patients were unable to suppress IFN‐γ secretion, and only minimally increased the expression of Foxp3 in naive CD4+CD45RO T cells. Despite this, the frequency of Tim‐1+ B cells in the atherosclerotic lesions from CAD patients was inversely correlated with the frequency of IFN‐γ‐expressing T cells. Together, these results demonstrated that CAD patients presented an inflammatory disorder in regulatory B cells, which could be used as a therapeutic target.
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