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Updated: Feb 4, 2026

Basic Research in Plasma Medicine - A Throughput Approach from Liquids to Cells
Published on: November 17, 2017
Natural regulatory plasma cells
1Institut Necker-Enfants Malades, INSERM U1151-CNRS UMR 8253, Paris, France; Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Faculté de Médecine, Paris, France; AP-HP, Hôpital Necker Enfants Malades, Paris, France.
B cells can generate several types of antibody-secreting cells, including plasmablasts that divide and are short lived, as well as plasma cells that do not proliferate and can persist for extended time periods. Here, we discuss the identification of a novel subset of non-dividing plasma cells specialized in the production of interleukin(IL)-10. These cells develop at steady state, including in germ-free mice, via a mechanism dependent on the B cell receptor for antigen and possibly involving the recognition of damaged cells. They are characterized by the expression of the inhibitory receptor LAG-3, and also express CD200, PD-L1, as well as PD-L2. Their specialized epigenome allows them to produce IL-10 within hours after stimulation, which altogether qualify these cells as natural regulatory plasma cells.
B cells can generate several types of antibody-secreting cells, including plasmablasts that divide and are short lived, as well as plasma cells that do not proliferate and can persist for extended time periods. Here, we discuss the identification of a novel subset of non-dividing plasma cells specialized in the production of interleukin(IL)-10. These cells develop at steady state, including in germ-free mice, via a mechanism dependent on the B cell receptor for antigen and possibly involving the recognition of damaged cells. They are characterized by the expression of the inhibitory receptor LAG-3, and also express CD200, PD-L1, as well as PD-L2. Their specialized epigenome allows them to produce IL-10 within hours after stimulation, which altogether qualify these cells as natural regulatory plasma cells.
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