Alterations of peripheral blood CD5+ B cells in inflammatory bowel disease

CD5(+) B cells comprise a unique subset of B cells that modulates innate as well as autoimmune systems. The aim of this study was to investigate alterations of the circulating CD5(+) B-cell subset in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) by evaluating various clinical parameters, including therapeutic regimens.

Thirty-four patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), 19 patients with Crohn's disease (CD), and 46 healthy control subjects were enrolled in this study. CD5(+) B cells in peripheral blood collected from each subject were analyzed by flow cytometry. Multiple regression analysis was carried out to evaluate the factors related to the circulating CD5(+) B-cell subset in the IBD patients. In an in vitro examination, dexamethasone-induced apoptosis in peripheral blood B cells was examined by detecting cell surface binding of the annexin-V antibody.

Age and gender in the control subjects did not influence the circulating CD5(+) B-cell subset. Multiple regression analysis showed that the presence of UC, corticosteroid therapy, and number of white blood cells in peripheral blood each had a significant influence in decreasing the number of circulating CD5(+) B cells in the IBD patients. Furthermore, in vitro results showed that dexamethasone treatment significantly induced apoptosis in CD5(+) B cells, though apoptosis was similarly observed in CD5(-) B cells.

CD5(+) B cells may be involved in the pathogenesis of UC, and modulation of this subset by corticosteroid therapy may play a role in the treatment of IBD patients.