Analysis of B cell subsets in rhumatoid arthritis patients and the effect of epigallocatechingallate on B cell subsets / 上海交通大学学报（医学版）

Objective:To explore the characteristics of B cell subsets in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and the regulation of epigallocatechingallate (EGCG) on B cell subsets in RA patients. Methods:Twenty-nine age- and sex-matched RA patients and 29 healthy controls were selected, and the difference of B cell subsets in peripheral blood between the two groups was analyzed by paired t-test. According to the value of disease activity score in 28 joints (DAS28), RA patients were divided into active group (2.6 ≤ DAS28 0.05). There was no significant difference in the numbers and the proportions of total B cells and B cell subsets (except CD19+ IL-10+ Breg) between 10 RA patients of active group and 19 RA patients of highly active group (P>0.05). There was no significant difference in the number and the proportion of CD19+ IL-10+ Breg in lymphocytes between 6 RA patients of active group and 12 RA patients of highly active group (P>0.05). The proportion of total B cells was weakly positively correlated with IgG type rheumatoid factor (r=0.308). EGCG could significantly increase the proportion of CD19+ IL-10+ Breg (P0.05). Conclusion:B cells may play an auxiliary role in the development of RA. The number of CD19+ IL-10+ Breg in RA patients increases as a feedback. EGCG can promote Breg proliferation and suppress BAFF-R mRNA expression.

Analysis of Peripheral B Cell Subsets in Patients With Allergic Rhinitis

PURPOSE: Recent evidence suggests that B cells can both promote and inhibit the development and progression of allergic disease. However, the characteristics of B cell subsets in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) have not been well documented. This study aimed to analyze the characteristics of B cell subsets in the peripheral blood of AR patients. METHODS: Forty-seven AR patients and 54 healthy controls were enrolled in this study, and the B cell subsets in peripheral blood of all subjects were analyzed by flow cytometry. Moreover, the serum total immunoglobulin E (IgE) and IgE concentrations secreted into the cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were measured by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: We found the peripheral blood of AR patients contained higher percentages of memory B cells, plasma cells, and CD19+CD24hiCD27+ regulatory B cells (Bregs) than those of age-matched healthy controls (P < 0.05), while the percentages of naïve B cells and CD19+CD24hiCD38hi Bregs were significantly lower in AR patients than in healthy individuals (P < 0.05). In addition, the serum total IgE and IgE concentrations secreted into the cultured PBMCs were elevated in AR patients than in the healthy controls (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that AR patients were characterized by increase in terminally differentiated memory B cells or plasma cells and decreases in CD19+CD24hiCD38hi Breg cells in the peripheral blood.

Disturbance of peripheral blood B cells homeostasis in rheumatoid arthritis and the influence of therapy on B cells homeostasis / 中华风湿病学杂志

Objective To investigate the characteristics and the frequencies of B cell subsets in peripheral blood of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients,and to study the correlation between B cell subsets and clinical indices and influence of different therapies on B cell subsets to deeply understand the pathogenesis of RA.Methods Peripheral blood witched memory B cells,non-switched memory B cells,naive B cells,and double negative B cells of 141 patients and 33 healthy controls were measured by flow cytometry.Patients were divided into three groups based on their therapeutic regimen,including tumor necrosis factor-or (TNF-α) inhibitors combined with disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs),DMARDs only and patients without any therapy.The relevance between B cells subsets and clinical manifestations,lab test results exemption were assessed as well as the influence of different therapies.All data were were analyzed by Statistical product and service solutions (SPSS) 23.0 statistical analysis for unpaired t test,analysis of variance and Spearman's correlations analysis.Results ① New-onset RA patients with less than 12 weeks disease duration and never accepted any drugs had a significantly lower frequency of peripheral blood memory B cells,including non-switched memory B cells [(8 ±4)％ vs (13 ±4)％,P＜0.05,t =3.3)] and switched memory B cells [(18±10)％ vs (23±7)％,P＜0.05,t=2.2)],than healthy individuals.② There was a negative association between non-switched memory B cells and disease activity score in 28 joints (r=-0.23,P＜0.05).③ Negative association between non-switched memory B cells and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR),lgG was found,while therewas no association between pre-switched B cells and other laboratory test results.④ Non-switched memory B cells and switched memory B cells increased after TNF-α arntagonist or DMARDs therapy.Conclusion The results of this study suggest that B cell abnormalities in new-onset RA patients with short disease duration are reduced non-switched memory B cells and switched memory B cells.A negative correlation has been found between non-switched memory B cells and ESR and lgG.B cells subsets frequency are changed by TNF-α antagonist and DMARDs,which suggests that changes of B cell subsets may contribute to the occurrence and development of RA.