Hoehlig Kai, Lampropoulou Vicky, Roch Toralf, Neves Patricia, Calderon-Gomez Elisabeth, Anderton Stephen M, Steinhoff Ulrich, Fillatreau Simon
Laboratory of immune regulation, Deutsches Rheuma-Forschungszentrum, Charitéplatz 1, Berlin, Germany.
Adv Immunol. 2008;98:1-38. doi: 10.1016/S0065-2776(08)00401-X.
B lymphocytes contribute to immunity in multiple ways, including production of antibodies, presentation of antigen to T cells, organogenesis of secondary lymphoid organs, and secretion of cytokines. Recent clinical trials have shown that depleting B cells can be highly beneficial for patients with autoimmune diseases, implicating B cells and antibodies as key drivers of pathology. However, it should be kept in mind that B cell responses and antibodies also have important regulatory roles in limiting autoimmune pathology. Here, we analyze clinical examples illustrating the potential of antibodies as treatment for immune-mediated disorders and discuss the underlying mechanisms. Furthermore, we examine the regulatory functions of activated B cells, their involvement in the termination of some experimental autoimmune diseases, and their use in cell-based therapy for such pathologies. These suppressive functions of B cells and antibodies do not only open new ways for harnessing autoimmune illnesses, but they also should be taken into account when designing new strategies for vaccination against microbes and tumors.
B淋巴细胞通过多种方式参与免疫，包括产生抗体、向T细胞呈递抗原、次级淋巴器官的器官发生以及细胞因子的分泌。最近的临床试验表明，耗尽B细胞对自身免疫性疾病患者可能非常有益，这表明B细胞和抗体是病理过程的关键驱动因素。然而，应该记住，B细胞反应和抗体在限制自身免疫病理方面也具有重要的调节作用。在这里，我们分析了说明抗体作为免疫介导疾病治疗潜力的临床实例，并讨论了潜在机制。此外，我们研究了活化B细胞的调节功能、它们在某些实验性自身免疫疾病终止中的作用以及它们在基于细胞的此类病理治疗中的应用。B细胞和抗体的这些抑制功能不仅为控制自身免疫性疾病开辟了新途径，而且在设计针对微生物和肿瘤的新疫苗接种策略时也应予以考虑。
