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CD25‐expressing B‐lymphocytes in Rheumatic Diseases
Author(s) -
Amu S.,
Strömberg K.,
Bokarewa M.,
Tarkowski A.,
Brisslert M.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.934
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1365-3083
pISSN - 0300-9475
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3083.2006.01889.x
Subject(s) - il 2 receptor , cd80 , immunology , immunoglobulin d , flow cytometry , pathogenesis , autoantibody , biology , cd86 , receptor , rheumatoid arthritis , medicine , b cell , t cell , immune system , cd40 , antibody , in vitro , cytotoxic t cell , genetics
B cells play an important role in the development of autoimmune diseases due to their production of autoantibodies, antigen‐presenting capacity and production of pro‐inflammatory cytokines. The purpose of the present study was to analyse B cells from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, with respect to their expression of the IL‐2 receptor (IL‐2R) subunit CD25. Using flow cytometry, we found that CD25 + B cells from RA patients expressed significantly higher frequencies of CD122 and CD132 than CD25 + B cells from control subjects, indicating a fully functional IL‐2R. These CD25 + B cells also expressed higher frequencies of the co‐stimulatory molecule CD80, whereas IgM and IgA expression was decreased compared with CD25 + B cells from healthy controls. In addition B cells from SLE patients co‐expressed CD25 together with CD80, CD122, and CD132, but to a lower degree IgD and IgM, when compared with healthy controls. Taken together, our results indicate that CD25 + B cells from RA and SLE patients are in a highly activated state, display a more mature phenotype and suggest that this B cell subset may be involved in the pathogenesis of RA and SLE.