Age-Dependent Defects of Regulatory B Cells in Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Gene Knockout Mice

PLoS One. 2015 Oct 8;10(10):e0139729. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0139729. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

The Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) is a rare X-linked primary immunodeficiency characterized by recurrent infections, thrombocytopenia, eczema, and high incidence of malignancy and autoimmunity. The cellular mechanisms underlying autoimmune complications in WAS have been extensively studied; however, they remain incompletely defined. We investigated the characteristics of IL-10-producing CD19+CD1dhighCD5+ B cells (CD1dhighCD5+ Breg) obtained from Was gene knockout (WKO) mice and found that their numbers were significantly lower in these mice compared to wild type (WT) controls. Moreover, we found a significant age-dependent reduction of the percentage of IL-10-expressing cells in WKO CD1dhighCD5+ Breg cells as compared to age-matched WT control mice. CD1dhighCD5+ Breg cells from older WKO mice did not suppress the in vitro production of inflammatory cytokines from activated CD4+ T cells. Interestingly, CD1dhighCD5+ Breg cells from older WKO mice displayed a basal activated phenotype which may prevent normal cellular responses, among which is the expression of IL-10. These defects may contribute to the susceptibility to autoimmunity with age in patients with WAS.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Aging*
  • Animals
  • Antigens, CD19 / metabolism
  • Antigens, CD1d / metabolism
  • B-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / cytology
  • B-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology*
  • B-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / metabolism
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • CD5 Antigens / metabolism
  • Coculture Techniques
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Interleukin-10 / analysis
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome / metabolism
  • Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome / pathology*

Substances

  • Antigens, CD19
  • Antigens, CD1d
  • CD5 Antigens
  • Cytokines
  • Interleukin-10