The Journal of Immunology · 2005 · 591 citations · 22 references
Life SciencesCell BiologyImmunologyAdaptive ImmunityCellular ImmunologyImmunoregulationB Cell BiologyB Cell RegulationB-cell ResponsesGerminal Center ReactionsRegulatory T CellsT Cell BiologyAntibody Class Switch RecombinationB Cell Class Switch RecombinationFoxp3 BiologyRegulatory B Cell ResponsesRegulatory T Cell Suppressive FunctionSecondary Lymphoid TissueSuppressionT-cell Dependent Immune Responses
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) can potentially migrate to the B cell areas of secondary lymphoid tissues and suppress T cell-dependent B cell Ig response. T cell-dependent Ig response requires B cell stimulation by Th cells. It has been unknown whether Tregs can directly suppress B cells or whether they must suppress Th cells to suppress B cell response. We report here that Foxp3+ Tregs are found in T-B area borders and within germinal centers of human lymphoid tissues and can directly suppress B cell Ig response. Although Tregs can effectively suppress T cells, they can also directly suppress B cell response without the need to first suppress Th cells. The direct suppression of B cell Ig production by Tregs is accompanied by inhibition of Ig class switch recombination.
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