T follicular helper cells mediate expansion of regulatory B cells via IL-21 in Lupus-prone MRL/lpr mice

PLoS One. 2013 Apr 24;8(4):e62855. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0062855. Print 2013.

Abstract

T follicular helper (Tfh) cells can mediate humoral immune responses and augment autoimmunity, whereas the role of Tfh cells on regulatory B (B10) cells in autoimmunity diseases is not clear. Here, we investigated the percentages of Tfh cells and B10 cells in lupus-prone MRL/Mp-lpr/lpr (MRL/lpr) mice and examined the effects and mechanism of Tfh cell-derived interleukin-21 (IL-21) on IL-10 production during the differentiation of B10 cells. Both Tfh cells and B10 cells were expanded in spleens of MRL/lpr mice. In addition, a positive correlation between the proportions of Tfh cells and B10 cells was observed. Tfh cell-derived IL-21 from MRL/lpr mice could promote IL-10 production during the differentiation of B10 cells. Importantly, neutralization of IL-21 inhibited IL-10 production and expansion of B10 cells both in vitro and in vivo. IL-21 induced IL-10 production via activation of phosphorylated signal transduction and activator of transcription 3 (p-STAT3). Inhibition of p-STAT3 effectively blocked IL-10 production during the differentiation of B10 cells. Moreover, IL-21-induced IL-10 exerted a regulatory function by inhibiting the proliferation of T cells. These data suggest that Tfh cells not only mediate humoral immune responses and augment autoimmunity but also play a broader role in immune regulatory actions via the induction of IL-10 production.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibody Formation / immunology
  • Autoantibodies / immunology
  • Autoimmune Diseases / immunology
  • Autoimmune Diseases / metabolism
  • Autoimmunity
  • B-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / cytology
  • B-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / drug effects
  • B-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology*
  • Cell Differentiation / drug effects
  • Cell Differentiation / immunology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Female
  • Interleukin-10 / biosynthesis
  • Interleukins / metabolism*
  • Interleukins / pharmacology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred MRL lpr
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / metabolism*

Substances

  • Autoantibodies
  • Interleukins
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor
  • Interleukin-10
  • interleukin-21

Grants and funding

This work was supported by grants from National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81072463; 81000693), Program of Shanghai Subject Chief Scientist (No. 11XD1401100), and Medical Postgraduate “Mingdao Project” of Fudan University (No. 10111220016). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.