Reprogramming of B cells into regulatory cells with engineered fusokines

Infect Disord Drug Targets. 2012 Jun;12(3):248-54. doi: 10.2174/187152612800564392.

Abstract

B cells play a pivotal role in host adaptive immunity against pathogenic microorganisms, but may also maladaptively contribute to the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. In contrast, distinct B cell subsets have the capacity to regulate host immune response, and suppress inflammation. B regulatory cells are a rare population of endogenous Blymphocytes defined in part by production of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. Although "natural" B regulatory cells exist in vivo, the low frequency of B regulatory cells may be a limiting factor on their impact in autoimmune ailments. In answer to this unmet need, we have developed a novel strategy for alternate lymphoid activation: fusokines. These wholly engineered chimeric leukines fuse two functionally unrelated cytokines for the purpose of alternate immune modulation. The GM-CSF- and IL-15-derived fusokine: GIFT15, possesses entirely novel and unheralded immune modulating properties mediated through the IL15 receptor which reprograms naive B cells into B regulatory cells (Bregs). In this article, we review the current approaches to generate Bregs in vitro, and highlight gain-of-function mechanisms by which GIFT15- induced Bregs abrogate pathogenic autoimmunity in mice. We also demonstrate that the human equivalent of inducible Bregs may also serve as a new potent therapeutic tool for treatment of autoimmune disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Autoimmune Diseases / immunology
  • Autoimmune Diseases / therapy
  • Autoimmunity / immunology
  • B-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology*
  • B-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology*
  • Cytokines / immunology*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / immunology
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-10 / immunology
  • Interleukin-15 / immunology
  • Mice
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / immunology*

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • GIFT15 protein
  • Interleukin-15
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Interleukin-10
  • Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor