Interleukin-5 supports the expansion of fas ligand-expressing killer B cells that induce antigen-specific apoptosis of CD4(+) T cells and secrete interleukin-10.

ABSTRACT: Beyond their critical role in humoral immunity, B lymphocytes can employ a variety of immunomodulatory mechanisms including expression of the apoptosis-inducing molecule Fas ligand (FasL; CD178). Here, we extensively characterized the surface phenotype of FasL(+) killer B cells, showing they are enriched in the IgM(high)CD5(+)CD1d(high) B cell subset previously reported to contain a higher frequency of B cells producing interleukin-10 (IL-10). A rare population of B cells expressing IL-10 was present among FasL(+) B cells, but most FasL(+) B cells did not produce IL-10. We also identify interleukin-5 (IL-5) as a novel inducer of killer B cell function. Constitutively FasL(+) B cells expressed higher levels of the IL-5 receptor, and treating B cells with IL-5 and CD40L resulted in the expan

SUBMITTER: Klinker MW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3734024 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature