Open AccessB‐cells with a FasL expressing regulatory phenotype are induced following successful anti‐tuberculosis treatment
Author(s) -
van Rensburg Ilana C.,
Kleynhans Léanie,
Keyser Alana,
Walzl Gerhard,
Loxton Andre G.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
immunity, inflammation and disease
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.918
H-Index - 18
ISSN - 2050-4527
DOI - 10.1002/iid3.140
Subject(s) - fas ligand , flow cytometry , phenotype , immunology , cytokine , biology , antigen , regulatory b cells , antibody , tuberculosis , apoptosis , gene , b cell , medicine , pathology , genetics , programmed cell death
Studies show that B‐cells, in addition to producing antibodies and antigen‐presentation, are able to produce cytokines as well. These include regulatory cytokines such as IL‐10 by regulatory B‐cells. Furthermore, a rare regulatory subset of B‐cells have the potential to express FasL, which is a death‐inducing ligand. This subset of B‐cells have a positive role during autoimmune disease, but has not yet been studied during tuberculosis. These FasL‐expressing B‐cells are induced by bacterial LPS and CpG, thus we hypothesized that this phenotype might be induced during tuberculosis as well. Methods B‐cells from participants with TB (at diagnosis and during treatment) and controls were collected, and analyzed by means of real‐time PCR and flow cytometry. In addition to this, BAL was collected from TB participants as well and analyzed by means of MAGPix (multi‐cytokine) technology. Results Gene expression analysis show that FASL transcript levels increase by the end of treatment. Similarly, phenotypic analysis show that there is a higher frequency of FasL‐expressing B‐cells by the end of treatment. Conclusion Collectively, these results indicate that these FasL‐expressing B‐cells are being induced during anti‐TB treatment, and thus may play a positive role. Further studies are required to elucidate this.