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Mesenchymal stem cells reveal mechanisms of action in regulatory B cells independent of interleukin-10 useful for their identification and monitoring

- Research

Researchers from the REMAR-IVECAT ("Kidney Related Diseases Research" and "Innovation in VEsicles and Cells for Application in Therapy") group, from the Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), identify molecular pathways in regulatory B cells that are essential for their therapeutic applications. In the article that has been recently published in Frontiers in Immunology, the use of mesenchymal stem cells has allowed distinguishing the molecules that are essential to monitoring regulatory B cells in kidney transplants. 

B cells have been traditionally studied due to their capacity to produce the antibodies that protect us from infection. Nonetheless, these cells are able to perform a wide range of functions, including the control of inflammatory processes. A population of B cells known as regulatory B cells reduce and controls excessive tissue inflammation.

B regulatory cells constitute currently a widely studied field because of their association with tolerance in kidney transplants; that is to say, the cells display increased levels in patients who have undergone transplants and do not experience rejection. B regulatory cells are very complex cells whose identification in patients has given rise to many debates.

On the other hand, mesenchymal stem cells have been broadly studied, given their therapeutic potential in the induction of immunomodulation and reduction of tissue inflammation. Moreover, they are able to induce immune cells with regulatory capacity.

In this study, the researchers from the IVECAT group have studied how these mesenchymal stem cells induce B regulatory cells and have identified how B regulatory cells act through a molecule known as TGF-β. In addition, it was found that interleukin-10 (or IL-10), which had been associated with B regulatory cells in previous studies, lacked of importance in their immunomodulatory capacity.

This study has been funded by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III and the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (MICINN and the European Regional Development Funds of the European Commission). The REMAR-IVECAT is a consolidated group with funds from the Agency for Management of University and Research Grants (AGAUR) of the Government of Catalonia.

Reference

Garcia SG, Sandoval-Hellín N, Clos-Sansalvador M, Carreras-Planella L, Morón-Font M, Guerrero D, Borràs FE, Franquesa M. Mesenchymal stromal cells induced regulatory B cells are enriched in extracellular matrix genes and IL-10 independent modulators. Front Immunol. 2022 Sep 14;13:957797. DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.957797. PMID: 36189264; PMCID: PMC9515545.

Received: 31 May 2022 / Accepted: 24 August 2022 / Published: 14 September 2022