CD19+CD24hiCD38hi B Cell Dysfunction in Primary Biliary Cholangitis

Abstract EN

CD19+CD24hiCD38hi B cells are immature transitional B cells that, in normal individuals, exert suppressive effects by IL-10 production but are quantitatively altered and/or functionally impaired in individuals with various autoimmune diseases.

Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), an autoimmune disease, clinically presents as chronic cholestasis and nonsuppurative destructive cholangitis.

A role for CD19+CD24hiCD38hi B cells in PBC is unknown.

This study investigated the frequency and functional variation of circulating CD19+CD24hiCD38hi B cells in PBC patients.

Flow cytometry was employed to quantify the percentage of CD19+CD24hiCD38hi B cells in peripheral blood samples.

Correlations between CD19+CD24hiCD38hi B cells and routine laboratory parameters were assessed.

Levels of IL-10, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-12, and Tim-1 in CD19+CD24hiCD38hi B cells from PBC patients were analyzed.

The effect of CD19+CD24hiCD38hi B cells on CD4+T cell differentiation was evaluated.

The percentage of CD19+CD24hiCD38hi B cells in PBC patients was significantly higher than in healthy controls and was positively correlated with liver cholestasis.

After activation by anti-B cell receptor and CpG, the production of IL-10 was decreased and the production of IL-6 and IL-12 was increased in CD19+CD24hiCD38hi B cells from PBC patients.

Moreover, Tim-1 levels were significantly downregulated in CD19+CD24hiCD38hi B cells from PBC patients.

Coculture showed that PBC-derived CD19+CD24hiCD38hi B cells were less capable of CD4+T cell inhibition, but promoted Th1 cell differentiation.

In conclusion, PBC patients have expanded percentages, but impaired CD19+CD24hiCD38hi B cells, which correlate with disease damage.

In PBC patients, this B cell subset has a skewed proinflammatory cytokine profile and a decreased capacity to suppress immune function, which may contribute to the pathogenesis of PBC.