Analysis of cytokine profiles produced by B cells in CTCL

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17H06634
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Dermatology
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: SUGA HIRAKU 東京大学, 医学部附属病院, 講師 (80704329)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-08-25 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: 皮膚T細胞リンパ腫 / 制御性B細胞

Outline of Final Research Achievements

It is well known that B cells play important roles in humoral immune responses. Here, the objective of this experiment was to investigate the role of B cells in the tumor microenvironment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). The frequency of IL-10-producing regulatory B cells was decreased in the peripheral blood from CTCL patients compared to healthy controls. Moreover, the frequency of regulatory B cells was inversely correlated with serum soluble IL-2 receptor levels and serum lactate dehydrogenase levels, which are disease severity markers of CTCL. On the other hand, there was no significant difference in expression of IL-17A, IL-23, GM-CSF, IL-1beta, IL-35, TGF-beta, IL-4 and IL-6 between CTCL patients and healthy controls. These results suggested that decrease of IL-10-producing regulatory B cells would be involved in the progression of CTCL.

Free Research Field

皮膚科

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

CTCLの腫瘍環境におけるB細胞の役割は明らかとなっていなかったが、IL-10産生制御性B細胞の減少がCTCLの進行に関与している可能性が考えられた。これらの結果からCTCLにおける制御性B細胞をターゲットとした新規治療法に結ぶ付く可能性がある。癌の種類によって制御性B細胞の役割は様々であり、悪性腫瘍と制御性B細胞の関係に関してはさらなる研究が必要である。