Open AccessCharacterization of c-Maf+Foxp3− Regulatory T Cells Induced by Repeated Stimulation of Antigen-Presenting B Cells
Author(s) -
Chien-Hui Chien,
Hui-Chieh Yu,
Szu-Ying Chen,
BorLuen Chiang
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
scientific reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.24
H-Index - 213
ISSN - 2045-2322
DOI - 10.1038/srep46348
Subject(s) - il 2 receptor , foxp3 , cytotoxic t cell , antigen presenting cell , antigen , interleukin 21 , microbiology and biotechnology , cd40 , t cell , population , biology , immunology , chemistry , immune system , medicine , in vitro , biochemistry , environmental health
The role of B cells in the development of CD4 + regulatory T cells has been emphasized recently. Our previous studies have demonstrated that the antigen-presenting splenic B cells converted naïve CD4 + CD25 − T cells into CD4 + CD25 + Foxp3 − T cells without additional cytokines or chemicals with regulatory activity and that referred to as Treg-of-B cells. The present study further showed that Treg-of-B cells increased the IL-10-producing population, and the expression of c-Maf, inducible T-cell co-stimulator (ICOS) as well as cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA4) after repeated stimulation of B cells in a cell-cell contact-dependent manner. Long-term cultured Treg-of-B cells exerted IL-10 and CTLA4-mediated antigen-specific suppressive activity; moreover, the single antigen-specific Treg-of-B cells inhibited in a non-antigen-specific fashion. In conclusion, these results suggest that repeated stimulation of B cells induced IL-10-producing CD4 + Foxp3 − regulatory T cells in a contact-dependent manner and these Treg-of-B cells possess IL-10 and CTLA4-dependent suppressive function.