The Expansion of CD25 high IL-10 high FoxP3 high B Regulatory Cells Is in Association with SLE Disease Activity

• Published in: Journal of immunology research 2015, Vol.2015, p.254245-6
• Main Authors: Vadasz, Zahava, Peri, Regina, Eiza, Nasren, Slobodin, Gleb, Balbir-Gurman, Alexandra, Toubi, Elias
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Antigens, CD19 - metabolism; B-Lymphocyte Subsets - immunology; B-Lymphocyte Subsets - metabolism; B-Lymphocytes, Regulatory - immunology; B-Lymphocytes, Regulatory - metabolism; Biomarkers; Female; Flow Cytometry; Forkhead Transcription Factors - metabolism; Humans; Immunophenotyping; Interleukin-10 - metabolism; Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit - metabolism; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - diagnosis; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - immunology; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - metabolism; Lymphocyte Activation - immunology; Lymphocyte Count; Male; Middle Aged; Semaphorin-3A - metabolism; Severity of Illness Index; Young Adult
• ISSN: 2314-8861; 2314-7156
• DOI: 10.1155/2015/254245

B regulatory cells (Bregs) belong to a subgroup of activated B cells tasked with maintaining self-tolerance and preventing autoimmunity. While sharing similar regulatory mechanisms such as IL-10 dependency, they also defer in exhibiting their suppressive effects by expressing Fas-Ligand, TGF-beta, and PDL-1. In this study we show, for the first time, the expansion of CD25(high)FoxP3(high) Bregs in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients compared to healthy individuals (18.5 ± 3.052% versus 11.0 ± 1.654%, p < 0.001, resp.). This expansion was also shown to correlate with SLE disease activity (r = 0.75). In addition, CD25(high)FoxP3(high) Bregs were also IL-10(high) expressing and further expanded when stimulated with semaphorin 3A. In sum we show that CD25(high)FoxP3(high) are an additional subtype of Bregs, involved in regulating SLE disease activity. Being IL-10 expressing, we may assume that they are one of the sources of increased serum IL-10 in SLE patients. Further studies are required in order to assess the relation between high serum IL-10 and CD25(high)FoxP3(high) Breg cells.