Open AccessPotential importance of B cells in aging and aging-associated neurodegenerative diseases
Author(s) -
Arya Biragyn,
Maria Aliseychik,
Evgeny I. Rogaev
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
seminars in immunopathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.778
H-Index - 94
eISSN - 1863-2300
pISSN - 1863-2297
DOI - 10.1007/s00281-016-0615-8
Subject(s) - immunology , inflammation , disease , immune system , multiple sclerosis , rheumatoid arthritis , regulatory b cells , autoimmunity , autoimmune disease , cancer , antibody , effector , medicine , arthritis , alzheimer's disease , biology , interleukin 10
Our understanding of B cells as merely antibody producers is slowly changing. Alone or in concert with antibody, they control outcomes of seemingly different diseases such as cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, and multiple sclerosis. While their role in activation of effector immune cells is beneficial in cancer but bad in autoimmune diseases, their immunosuppressive and regulatory subsets (Bregs) inhibit autoimmune and anticancer responses. These pathogenic and suppressive functions are not static and appear to be regulated by the nature and strength of inflammation. Although aging increases inflammation and changes the composition and function of B cells, surprisingly, little is known whether the change affects aging-associated neurodegenerative disease, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here, by analyzing B cells in cancer and autoimmune and neuroinflammatory diseases, we elucidate their potential importance in AD and other aging-associated neuroinflammatory diseases.