A New Kid on the Block: IL-10+ Regulatory B Cells and a Possible Role In Psoriasis

The pivotal role of T cells in the etiology of psoriasis has been elucidated; however, the mechanisms that regulate these T cells are unclear. Recently, it has been shown that an IL-10 producing B cell population may downregulate T cell function and it has been hypothesized that depletion of this B cell population may lead to exacerbation of T-cell mediated autoimmune disease. We present the case of an adolescent male with autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS) being treated with the anti-CD20 chimeric monoclonal antibody rituximab in addition to intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) for immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) who developed a psoriasiform rash on his hands following mechanical trauma with concomitant severely decreased B cell count. We propose that depletion of the patient's B cells due to rituximab treatment may have led to abrogation of IL-10+ B-cell regulation of T cells. The development of a psoriasiform rash in this predisposed individual may have been triggered by mechanical trauma to his hands (koebnerization). In addition, we believe the patient's rash may have been tempered by concomitant treatment with IVIG, which has been used as treatment in cases of psoriasis. We discuss the immunologic mechanism of psoriasis and the role that a recently described IL-10+ B cell may play in preventing the pathologic process. Further studies are needed to more clearly elucidate this process.