Immunoregulatory potential of T2-MZP B cells

摘要

B cells with the capacity to inhibit inflammatory immune responses have now been described in a number of experimental models of autoimmunity, infection and cancer. Just as the identification of regulatory T cells offers a possible target for the control of aberrant immune responses, a well-defined regulatory B-cell subset may have the potential to be manipulated in vivo for the treatment of conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus and inflammatory bowel disease. In this review, we discuss the latest findings showing that immature transitional-2 (T2-MZP) B cells can produce IL-10 and are able to prevent or ameliorate collagen-induced arthritis. These results ascribe T2-MZP B cells with a previously unrecognized regulatory capacity.