Constitutively CD40-activated B cells regulate CD8 T cell inflammatory response by IL-10 induction

J Immunol. 2013 Apr 1;190(7):3189-96. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1203364. Epub 2013 Feb 25.

Abstract

B cells are exposed to high levels of CD40 ligand (CD40L, CD154) in chronic inflammatory diseases. In addition, B cells expressing both CD40 and CD40L have been identified in human diseases such as autoimmune diseases and lymphoma. However, how such constitutively CD40-activated B cells under inflammation may impact on T cell response remains unknown. Using a mouse model in which B cells express a CD40L transgene (CD40LTg) and receive autocrine CD40/CD40L signaling, we show that CD40LTg B cells stimulated memory-like CD4 and CD8 T cells to express IL-10. This IL-10 expression by CD8 T cells was dependent on IFN-I and programmed cell death protein 1, and was critical for CD8 T cells to counterregulate their overactivation. Furthermore, adoptive transfer of naive CD8 T cells in RAG-1(-/-) mice normally induces colitis in association with IL-17 and IFN-γ cytokine production. Using this model, we show that adoptive cotransfer of CD40LTg B cells, but not wild-type B cells, significantly reduced IL-17 response and regulated colitis in association with IL-10 induction in CD8 T cells. Thus, B cells expressing CD40L can be a therapeutic goal to regulate inflammatory CD8 T cell response by IL-10 induction.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens / immunology
  • Autocrine Communication / immunology
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • CD40 Antigens / metabolism*
  • CD40 Ligand / metabolism
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism*
  • Colitis / immunology
  • Colitis / metabolism
  • Cytotoxicity, Immunologic
  • Immunologic Memory
  • Inflammation / genetics
  • Inflammation / immunology*
  • Inflammation / metabolism*
  • Interleukin-10 / metabolism
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor / metabolism
  • Receptor, Interferon alpha-beta / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Antigens
  • CD40 Antigens
  • Pdcd1 protein, mouse
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor
  • Interleukin-10
  • CD40 Ligand
  • Receptor, Interferon alpha-beta