The Plasma Interleukin (IL)-35 Level and Frequency of Circulating IL-35+ Regulatory B Cells are Decreased in a Cohort of Chinese Patients with New-onset Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

作者：Ye Zhuang, Yanfang Jiang, Dejun Sun, Wei Zhong, Ling Zhao, Zhenyu Jiang · 发表于：Scientific Reports · 年份：2019 · DOI：10.1038/s41598-019-49748-z · 被引用次数：57 · 研究领域：Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Research、T-cell and B-cell Immunology、Immune Cell Function and Interaction

Abstract Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystemic autoimmune disease that is associated with the destruction of immune tolerance and activation of B cells. Interleukin (IL)-35 and IL-35-producing (IL-35 + ) regulatory B cells (Bregs) have been demonstrated to possess immunosuppressive functions, but their roles in the initiation and early development of SLE have not been explored. Here, we measured and compared the frequencies of blood regulatory B cell subsets and the concentrations of plasma IL-35, IL-10, IL-17A, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interferon (IFN)-γ in 47 Chinese patients with newly diagnosed SLE and 20 matched healthy controls (HCs). The SLE patients had decreased percentages of IL-35 + B cells and IL-10 + B cells among the total blood B cells as well as decreased concentrations of plasma IL-35. In addition, higher levels of plasma IL-10, IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-17 along with higher frequencies of circulating plasma and memory B cells were observed in the SLE patients. The percentage of IL-35 + Bregs and the serum IL-35 level were inversely correlated with the SLE disease activity index and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) levels. Our results indicate that IL-35 + Bregs and IL-35 may play protective roles in SLE initiation and progression.