@article{oai:kanazawa-u.repo.nii.ac.jp:00013375,
 author = {Fujimoto, Manabu},
 issue = {1},
 journal = {Journal of Dermatological Science},
 month = {Oct},
 note = {While B cells are generally considered to be positive regulators of humoral immune responses due to their ability to differentiate into plasmablasts/plasma cells and produce antibodies, B cells also modulate immune responses through antigen presentation and cytokine secretion. Moreover, " regulatory B cells" that suppress immune responses have been recognized as an important new component of the immune system. In mice, the function of regulatory B cells is almost exclusively dependent on IL-10. The cell-surface phenotype of murine IL-10-producing regulatory B cells is reported to be CD1dhiCD5+ or CD1dhiCD21hiCD23+IgMhi, and thus their phenotype overlaps with that of CD5+ B-1a cells, CD1dhiCD21hiCD23loIgMhi marginal zone (MZ) B cells, and CD1dhiCD21hiCD23hiIgMhi T2-MZ precursor B cells. Contrary to earlier work that suggested a minor role for B cells in contact hypersensitivity, regulatory B cells are now known to have a critical inhibitory functions in this type of immune response. Furthermore, studies using murine disease models have demonstrated that regulatory B cells play a significant role in autoimmune connective tissue diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus, as well as organ-specific autoimmune diseases including experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and inflammatory bowel disease. In comparison to mouse regulatory B cells, little is known regarding their human counterparts. One recent study demonstrates that human CD19+CD24hiCD38hi B cells possess regulatory capacity. Clarifying the molecular mechanisms by which regulatory B cells suppress immune responses will be of great benefit in the development of new B cell-targeted therapeutic strategies. © 2010 Japanese Society for Investigative Dermatology., 金沢大学医薬保健研究域医学系},
 pages = {1--7},
 title = {Regulatory B cells in skin and connective tissue diseases},
 volume = {60},
 year = {2010}
}