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Active Chronic Sarcoidosis is Characterized by Increased Transitional Blood B Cells, Increased IL-10-Producing Regulatory B Cells and High BAFF Levels

2012; Public Library of Science; Volume: 7; Issue: 8 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1371/journal.pone.0043588

1932-6203

A. Saussine, Abdellatif Tazi, S. Feuillet, M. Rybojad, C. Juillard, Anne Bergeron, Valérie Dessirier, Fatiha Bouhidel, Anne Janin, Armand Bensussan, Martine Bagot, Jean‐David Bouaziz,

Drug-Induced Adverse Reactions

Background Sarcoidosis is a multisystemic disease of unknown etiology characterized by a disproportionate Th1 granulomatous immune response in the organs involved. Plasmatic hypergammaglobulinemia and B cell accumulation in granulomatous lesions suggest the possible role of humoral immune responses in the pathogenesis of sarcoidosis. The purpose of this study is to describe B cell peripheral compartment in sarcoidosis. Methodology/Principal Findings We analyzed blood B cell subsets and BAFF levels in 33 patients with chronic sarcoidosis (active sarcoidosis n = 18; inactive sarcoidosis n = 15) and 18 healthy donors. Active chronic sarcoidosis patients had significantly less circulating memory B cells (p<0.01), more transitional (p<0.01) and increased numbers of IL-10-producing regulatory B cells (p<0.05) compared with healthy donors and patients with inactive sarcoidosis. BAFF serum levels were significantly higher in patients with active sarcoidosis (p<0.01 versus healthy donors and inactive sarcoidosis patients) and strongly correlated with serum hypergammaglobulinemia (r = 0.53, p<0.01) and angiotensin converting enzyme levels (r = 0.61, p = <0.01). Conclusions/Significance These data show that there is an altered B cell homeostasis in active sarcoidosis and suggest BAFF antagonist drugs as potential new treatments of this disease.