B cells regulate thymic CD8+T cell differentiation in lupus-prone mice.

ABSTRACT: Previous studies have shown that under normal physiological conditions thymic B cells play a critical function in T cell negative selection. We tested the effect of thymic B cells on thymic T-cell differentiation in autoimmune diseases including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We found that thymic B cells and CD8- CD4+ and CD4-CD8+T cells increased, whereas CD4+CD8+T cells decreased in lupus-prone mice. Once B cells were reduced, the change was reversed. Furthermore, we found that B cells blocked thymic immature single positive (ISP) CD4-CD8+CD3lo/-ROR?t- T cells progression into CD4+CD8+T cells. Interestingly, we found a novel population of thymic immature T cells (CD4-CD8+CD3loROR?t+) that were induced into mature CD4-CD8+CD3+ROR?t+T cells by B cells in lupus-prone mice. Importantly, we found that IgG, produced by thymic B cells, played a critical role in the differentiation of thymic CD8+ISP and mature ROR?t+CD8+ T cells in lupus-prone mice. In conclusion, B cells blocked the differentiation from thymic CD8+ISP and induced the differentiation of a novel immature CD4-CD8+CD3loROR?t+T cells into mature ROR?t+CD8+ T cells by secreting IgG antibody in lupus-prone mice.

SUBMITTER: Xing C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5685686 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature