Identification of human regulatory B cells and their role in autoimmune diseases

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24591450
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: 膠原病・アレルギー・感染症内科学
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: NIIRO HIROAKI 九州大学, 大学病院, 准教授 (20380636)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): AKASHI Koichi 九州大学, 医学研究院, 教授 (80380385)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 自己免疫疾患 / B細胞 / 免疫学

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In the present study, we showed that IL-10-producing regulatory B cells (Bregs) are predominantly induced in human IgM-memory B cell subsets in the peripheral blood, and also showed that Blimp-1, a master regulator of plasma cell differentiation, plays a critical role in Breg induction. Patients with SLE, a prototypic autoimmune disease, exhibited defective Breg function mainly via impaired induction of Blimp-1.

Free Research Field

医歯薬学