PD-1-expressing B cells suppress CD4+ and CD8+ T cells via PD-1/PD-L1-dependent pathway

X Wang, G Wang, Z Wang, B Liu, N Han, J Li, C Lu… - Molecular …, 2019 - Elsevier
X Wang, G Wang, Z Wang, B Liu, N Han, J Li, C Lu, X Liu, Q Zhang, Q Yang, G Wang
Molecular immunology, 2019Elsevier
B cell-mediated regulatory function is instrumental to the maintenance of tolerance, but may
also contribute to immune dysfunction during infectious diseases and malignancies. In this
study, we investigated a subset of B cells characterized by PD-1 expression. Data showed
that these PD-1+ B cells were rare in peripheral blood, but were significantly upregulated in
differentiated thyroid tumors. The PD-1+ B cells also expressed significantly higher level of
PD-L1. Continuous, but not short-term, anti-Ig/CD40 L stimulation could upregulate the …
Abstract
B cell-mediated regulatory function is instrumental to the maintenance of tolerance, but may also contribute to immune dysfunction during infectious diseases and malignancies. In this study, we investigated a subset of B cells characterized by PD-1 expression. Data showed that these PD-1+ B cells were rare in peripheral blood, but were significantly upregulated in differentiated thyroid tumors. The PD-1+ B cells also expressed significantly higher level of PD-L1. Continuous, but not short-term, anti-Ig/CD40 L stimulation could upregulate the expression of PD-1 and PD-L1 in B cells. In in vitro experiments, PD-1+ B cells significantly suppressed the proliferation of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and reduced their viability upon CD3/CD28 stimulation, thus suggesting that these PD-1+ B cells presented regulatory functions. However, unlike other IL-10-secreting Breg cell subsets, the PD-1+ B cells did not express high level of IL-10. Instead, it seemed that PD-L1 was instrumental to the suppressive effects mediated by PD-1+ B cells, since the blockade of PD-L1 significantly increased the proliferation and viability of T cells in the coculture. Interestingly, compared to untreated patients with differentiated thyroid tumor, the thyroidectomy and 131I-treated patients presented significantly lower frequencies of PD-1+ B cells. Together, our investigation demonstrated that the PD-1+ B cells possessed regulatory capacity toward T cell responses, and although rare in peripheral blood, they were significantly enriched in thyroid tumors.
Elsevier