Abstract
Accumulation of human CD21(low) B cells in peripheral blood is a hallmark of chronic activation of the adaptive immune system in certain infections and autoimmune disorders. The molecular pathways underpinning the development, function, and fate of these CD21(low) B cells remain incompletely characterized. Here, combined transcriptomic and chromatin accessibility analyses supported a prominent role for the transcription factor T-bet in the transcriptional regulation of these T-bet(high)CD21(low) B cells. Investigating essential signals for generating these cells in vitro established that B cell receptor (BCR)/interferon-gamma receptor (IFN gamma R) costimulation induced the highest levels of T-bet expression and enabled their differentiation during cell cultures with Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligand or CD40L/interleukin-21 (IL-21) stimulation. Low proportions of CD21(low) B cells in peripheral blood from patients with defined inborn errors of immunity (IEI), because of mutations affecting canonical NF-kappa B, CD40, and IL-21 receptor or IL-12/IFN gamma/IFN gamma receptor/signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) signaling, substantiated the essential roles of BCR- and certain T cell-derived signals in the in vivo expansion of T-bet(high)CD21(low) B cells. Disturbed TLR signaling due to MyD88 or IRAK4 deficiency was not associated with reduced CD21(low) B cell proportions. The expansion of human T-bet(high)CD21(low) B cells correlated with an expansion of circulating T follicular helper 1 (cTfh1) and T peripheral helper (Tph) cells, identifying potential sources of CD40L, IL-21, and IFN gamma signals. Thus, we identified important pathways to target autoreactive T-bet(high)CD21(low) B cells in human autoimmune conditions, where these cells are linked to pathogenesis and disease progression.
Item Type: | Journal article |
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Faculties: | Medicine |
Subjects: | 600 Technology > 610 Medicine and health |
ISSN: | 2470-9468 |
Language: | English |
Item ID: | 99477 |
Date Deposited: | 05. Jun 2023, 15:31 |
Last Modified: | 17. Oct 2023, 15:01 |