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Flow Cytometry-Based Quantification and Analysis of Myocardial B-Cells
Published on: August 17, 2022
Novel B-cell subsets in atherosclerosis
1Division of Biopharmaceutics, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Insights
Cardiovascular disease remains a leading cause of death. Recent research reveals B-cell subsets, not just antibodies, significantly impact atherosclerosis, necessitating a nuanced understanding of their roles.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cardiovascular Research
- Atherosclerosis Pathogenesis
Background:
- Cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality remains high despite advances in cholesterol management.
- Atherosclerosis, the primary pathology of CVD, is an inflammatory disease with complex immune involvement.
- The role of B cells in atherosclerosis has traditionally been viewed as protective, but this is being re-evaluated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current understanding of B-cell subset functions in atherosclerosis.
- To explore the potential impact of newly identified B-cell subsets on this disease.
- To highlight the need for differentiating B-cell subsets in atherosclerosis research.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent immunological and cardiovascular research.
- Analysis of studies investigating B-cell subsets and their mediators (cytokines, surface markers).
- Synthesis of findings on B-cell independent immune effects in autoimmune and inflammatory conditions.
Main Results:
- B cells exert significant immune effects beyond antibody production.
- Novel B-cell subsets influence T-cell responses and cytokine profiles.
- These subsets are implicated in autoimmune disorders and warrant further investigation in atherosclerosis.
Conclusions:
- The role of B cells in atherosclerosis is complex and subset-dependent.
- Understanding non-antibody mediated functions of B-cell subsets is crucial for novel therapeutic strategies.
- Further research into recently identified B-cell subsets is needed to elucidate their specific contributions to atherosclerosis.
Purpose Of Review:
The number of deaths associated with cardiovascular disease remains high, despite great advances in treating the associated high levels of cholesterol. The main underlying pathology of cardiovascular disease is atherosclerosis, which is recognized as a chronic autoimmune-like inflammatory disease. Hence, there is a pressing need to shed light on the immune pathways associated with atherosclerosis. B cells have long been thought to have a general protective effect in atherosclerosis. However, findings in the last decade have challenged this paradigm, showing that it is crucial to differentiate between the various B-cell subsets when assessing their role/effect on atherosclerosis.
Recent Findings:
It has become increasingly recognized lately that B cells can have significant effects on the immune system independent of antibody production. The understanding that B cells form a major source of cytokines and can directly influence T-cell responses via surface markers, have led to the identification of novel B-cell subsets. These subsets are important modulators of autoimmune disorders but have not yet been fully investigated in atherosclerosis.
Summary:
Here we review the current known roles of B-cell subsets and the putative effects of recently identified B cells on atherosclerosis.
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