Regulatory B cell development

调节性B淋巴细胞(Bregs)是一类新出现的B细胞亚群，是免疫调节系统的重要组成部分，但目前对其认识还不够深入。虽然我们知道Bregs可以通过产生免疫抑制细胞因子IL-10来抑制免疫反应，但并不是所有产生IL-10的B细胞都是功能性免疫抑制细胞。此外，目前还不存在识别Bregs的特定标记。我的实验室获得的证据表明，许多B细胞在被激活时可以产生IL-10，但只有一个产生IL-10的细胞亚群能够分化为Bregs，而其他细胞则成为免疫激活剂或抗体产生细胞。该研究计划的目的是了解Bregs的生物学，特别是其分化和功能的信号通路。该计划的长期目标是建立一种理论，可以解释为什么以及如何将产生IL-10的B细胞发育成功能不同的细胞。我们将利用分子生物学、细胞生物学和动物模型仔细研究B细胞不同亚群的功能和信号通路。通过这项研究获得的知识将极大地促进我们对信号通路在控制新的调节性B细胞的命运、分化和功能发育方面的基本理解。

Regulatory B lymphocytes (Bregs) are a novel subset of B cells emerging as an important part of immune regulatory system, but are not well understood. While we do know that Bregs can inhibit immune responses through the production of immune suppressive cytokine IL-10, not all IL-10-producing B cells are functionally immune suppressive. Additionally, no specific marker currently exists to identify Bregs. My laboratory has obtained evidence that many B cells can produce IL-10 when they are activated, but only one subset of IL-10-producing cells is able to differentiate into Bregs, while others become immune activators or antibody producers. The objective of this research program is to understand the biology of Bregs, particularly the signaling pathways underlying their differentiation and function. The long term goal of this program is to establish a theory that can explain why and how IL-10-producing B cells develop into functionally different cells. We will carefully examine the function and signaling pathways in different subsets of B cells using molecular biology, cell biology and animal models. The knowledge attained from this research program will significantly advance our basic understanding about the signaling pathways in controlling the fate differentiation and functional development of novel regulatory B cells.