The mechanism of immune regulatory function of B cells and its pathologic significance

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15H04746
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Immunology
• Research Institution: Kyushu University (2017); Osaka University (2015-2016)
• Principal Investigator: Yoshihiro Baba 九州大学, 生体防御医学研究所, 教授 (20415269)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: B細胞 / IL-10 / 自己免疫

Outline of Final Research Achievements

B cells can suppress autoimmunity by secreting interleukin-10 (IL-10). Although subpopulations of splenic B lineage cells are reported to express IL- 10 in vitro, the identity of IL-10-producing B cells with regulatory function in vivo remains unknown. By using IL-10 reporter mice, we found that plasmablasts in the draining lymph nodes (dLNs), predominantly expressed IL-10 during experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). We purified these plasmablasts and performed global gene expression profiling of them. We identified a unique gene expression pattern in IL-10+ plasmabalsts. Then, we focused on one of the genes and generated its B cell-specific knock out mice. Mice lacking the gene had an increase of germinal center B cells and produced autoantibodies. These data suggest that the gene contributes to B cell tolerance.

Free Research Field

免疫学