TGF-β1-induced regulatory T cells directly suppress B cells through non-cytotoxic manner (IRC11P.423)

• DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.194.supp.197.5
• Publication Date: 2023-01-01T10:13:04Z
• Authors: Song Zheng; Ya Liu; Weiqian Chen; Anping Xu; Julie Wang; Nancy Olsen
• Keywords: 0303 health sciences; 03 medical and health sciences; 3. Good health

Abstract Methods: Naïve CD4+ T cells and B cells were isolated from C57BL/6 mice. Peripherally induced CD4+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (itregs) was induced with IL-2 and TGF-β. The thymus-derived naturally CD4+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (ntregs) was obtained from C57BL/6 mice. iTregs and nTregs cells were cultured with B cells for 3-5 days in vitro. The activation marker, proliferation, Annexin-V and 7-AAD expression by B cells was determined by FACS. For in vivo experiment, iTregs and nTregs cells were transferred to endogenous T cell-deleted lupus prone mice. The IgG antibody production was measured by ELISA at the indicated time points. Results: We found that iTregs share similar functional characteristics with nTregs, both iTregs and nTegs can directly suppress the proliferation and production of autoantibodies of B cells. Unlike nTregs, iTregs suppressed B cells through non-cytotoxic manner. Moreover, the TGF-β signal is important for the effects of iTregs on B cells. We further showed that iTregs directly suppress B cells in vitro and in vivo in lupus prone mice. Conclusions: Our data implicate the role and advantage of iTregs in treating B cell-mediated autoimmune diseases.