Induction of the IL-10-producing regulatory B cell phenotype following Trichinella spiralis infection

Abstract

Regulatory B cells (Bregs), a subset of B lymphocytes discovered in the past few decades, have the capacity to suppress the immune response and dampen inflammation by secreting cytokines (IL-10 and TGF-β). Whether Bregs are involved in Trichinella spiralis infection and the phenotypic characteristics of these cells after infection are still unknown. We investigated the phenotype of and dynamic changes in IL-10-producing Bregs in Trichinella spiralis infection in BALB/c mice. We used multicolour fluorescence immunostaining of microwave-treated paraffin sections to investigate the number of Bregs in T. spiralis infection. Flow cytometry (FCM) was used to determine the frequency of Bregs and related subgroups and cytokines in the spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs). High levels of IL-10 were detected in the spleen and MLNs of mice after infection with T. spiralis. Furthermore, the frequencies of IL-10-producing CD19+CD1dhighCD5+ regulatory B cells and CD19+ cells were increased during T. spiralis infection. We also showed that the induced phenotype was similar to that of transitional type 2 marginal zone precursor B cells (T-MZP) cells after T. spiralis infection in mice. This study is the first demonstration of the expansion of Bregs following T. spiralis infection.