Regulatory CD4+ T cells promote B cell anergy in murine lupus

J Immunol. 2014 May 1;192(9):4069-73. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1302897. Epub 2014 Mar 26.

Abstract

To prevent autoimmunity, anergy of autoreactive B cells needs to be maintained, together with the suppression of hyperactive B cells. We previously reported that CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells (Tregs) can directly suppress autoantibody-producing autoreactive B cells in systemic lupus erythematosus. In this article, we show that Tregs can also reduce the production of autoantibodies in (NZB × NZW)F1 mouse lupus B cells by promoting B cell anergy, both in vitro and in vivo. This phenomenon associated with a reduction in Ca(2+) flux in B cells, and CTLA-4 blockade inhibited the effects of Tregs on anergic lupus B cells. These findings identify a new mechanism by which Tregs can control production of autoantibodies in lupus B cells and, more generally, B cell activity in physiopathological conditions.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibody Formation / immunology
  • Autoantibodies / immunology
  • Autoimmunity / immunology*
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Cell Separation
  • Clonal Anergy / immunology*
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / immunology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology*

Substances

  • Autoantibodies