Elevated circulating CD19+CD24hiCD38hi B cells display pro-inflammatory phenotype in idiopathic membranous nephropathy

作者：Deng, Bishun; Deng, Li; Liu, Miao; Zhao, Ziling; Huang, Huijie; Tu, Xiaoxin; Liang, Enyu; Tian, Ruimin; Wang, Xiaowan; Wang, Rongrong; Lin, Haibiao; Yu, Yongyi; Peng, Anping; Xu, Peng; Bao, Kun^*; He, Min^*

来源：Immunology Letters, 2023, 261: 58-65.

DOI：10.1016/j.imlet.2023.08.001

• Regulatory B cells
• CD19+CD24 hi CD38 hi B cells
• Idiopathic membranous nephropathy
• Autoimmune disease
• T helper 17 cells

CD19+CD24hiCD38hi regulatory B cells exert immunosuppressive functions by producing IL-10, but their role in idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) remains elusive. Here, we investigated the frequency and functional changes of circulating CD19+CD24hiCD38hi B cells and evaluated the correlation of CD19+CD24hiCD38hi B cells with clinical features and T helper cell subsets in IMN patients. Compared with healthy controls (HCs), IMN patients showed an increased frequency of CD19+CD24hiCD38hi B cells, but a significant reduction in the percentage of CD19+CD24hiCD38hi B cells was observed 4 weeks after cyclophosphamide treatment. The frequency of CD19+CD24hiCD38hi B cells was positively correlated with the levels of 24h urinary protein, but negatively correlated with serum total protein and serum albumin, respectively. CD19+CD24hiCD38hi B cells in IMN patients displayed a skewed pro-inflammatory cytokine profile with a higher level of IL-6 and IL-12, but a lower concentration of IL-10 than their healthy counterparts. Accompanied by upregulation of Th2 and Th17 cells in IMN patients, the percentage of CD19+CD24hiCD38hi B cell subset was positively associated with Th17 cell frequency. In conclusion, CD19+CD24hiCD38hi B cells were expanded but functionally impaired in IMN patients. Their altered pro-inflammatory cytokine profile may contribute to the pathogenesis of IMN.

• 单位
  广州中医药大学