B lymphocytes directly contribute to tissue fibrosis in patients with IgG₄-related disease.

ABSTRACT:

Background

IgG₄-related disease (IgG₄-RD) is a fibroinflammatory condition marked by rapid clinical improvement after selective depletion of B lymphocytes with rituximab. This feature suggests that B cells might participate in fibrogenesis and wound healing.

Objective

In the present work we aimed to demonstrate that B lymphocytes contribute directly to tissue fibrosis in patients with IgG₄-RD.

Methods

Total circulating CD19⁺ B lymphocytes, naive B cells, memory B cells, or plasmablasts from patients with IgG₄-RD were cultivated with human fibroblasts. Profibrotic soluble factors and collagen production in cocultures were assessed by using ELISAs and Luminex assays. RNA sequencing and quantitative RT-PCR were used

SUBMITTER: Della-Torre E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6960365 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature