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Updated: Feb 2, 2026
Development of Stem Cell-derived Antigen-specific Regulatory T Cells Against Autoimmunity
Published on: November 8, 2016
Regulatory B cells: New players in inflammatory and autoimmune rheumatic diseases
Lazaros I Sakkas1, Dimitrios Daoussis2, Athanasios Mavropoulos1
1Department of Rheumatology and clinical Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Biopolis, Larissa 41 110, Greece.
Objective:
Regulatory B cells (Bregs) are a new subset of B cells with immunoregulatory functions, mainly through IL-10 production. Bregs suppress inflammatory Th1 and Th17 differentiation and induce Tregs suppressing autoimmune diseases. The aim of the study was to review the literature related to Bregs in autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARDs).
Methods:
A literature review of publications in PUBMED published in English was performed using the relevant combinations of terms.
Results:
All relevant publications are discussed. Overall, recent studies in rheumatic diseases found Bregs to be decreased in ANCA-associated vasculitides (AAV) and in systemic sclerosis (SSc), particularly in SSc-associated lung fibrosis. In AAV Bregs levels are negatively correlated with autoantibody levels whereas in SSc this association is less clear but there is an inverse association with Th1 and Th17 cells. In rheumatoid arthritis (RA), Bregs were decreased, particularly in RA-associated lung fibrosis. In psoriatic arthritis IL-10 + Bregs are decreased and inversely associated with Th1 and Th17 cells. In systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the role of Bregs is unclear. In experimental diseases, when Bregs were expanded ex-vivo, they ameliorated established disease.
Conclusion:
Bregs appear to be a new player in the pathogenesis of ARDs, and may offer a new strategy for therapeutic intervention.
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