A regulatory role for IL-10 receptor signaling in development and B cell help of T follicular helper cells in mice

G Cai, X Nie, W Zhang, B Wu, J Lin, H Wang… - The Journal of …, 2012 - journals.aai.org
G Cai, X Nie, W Zhang, B Wu, J Lin, H Wang, C Jiang, Q Shen
The Journal of Immunology, 2012journals.aai.org
IL-10 is widely accepted as a survival, proliferation, and differentiation factor for B cells.
However, IL-10 deficiency accelerates disease progression as the result of autoantibody
production in many autoimmune disease models. It was demonstrated that T follicular helper
cells (T FH cells) play a key role in helping B cells that are secreting Abs. In this study, we
demonstrated a regulatory role for IL-10R signaling on the development and B cell help
function of T FH cells in vitro and in vivo. IL-1R subunit β-deficient (Il10rb−/−) Th cells were …
Abstract
IL-10 is widely accepted as a survival, proliferation, and differentiation factor for B cells. However, IL-10 deficiency accelerates disease progression as the result of autoantibody production in many autoimmune disease models. It was demonstrated that T follicular helper cells (T FH cells) play a key role in helping B cells that are secreting Abs. In this study, we demonstrated a regulatory role for IL-10R signaling on the development and B cell help function of T FH cells in vitro and in vivo. IL-1R subunit β-deficient (Il10rb−/−) Th cells were able to differentiate more readily into T FH cells, as well as secrete more IL-21 and IL-17 compared with wild-type Th cell-derived T FH cells. Increased IL-21 and IL-17 contributed to the enhanced B cell help functions of T FH cells. Further experiments demonstrated that IL-6 and IL-23 from dendritic cells in Il10rb−/− mice contributed to the differentiation of naive Th cells into T FH cells, as well as the generation of IL-21–and IL-17–producing T FH cells. Our results provide useful information for clarifying the immunoregulatory mechanisms associated with IL-10 deficiency in certain autoimmune disease models. This information could also be of benefit for the development of vaccines.
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