Novel Regulatory B cells for Treatment of Cancer and Autoimmune Disease

The manner by which cancers evade the immune response is not well-understood. What is known is that the manner is an active process that regulates immune responses employing at least two types of suppressive cells, myeloid-derived suppressive cells and regulatory T cells (Tregs), a key subset of CD4+ T cells that controls peripheral tolerance to self- and allo-antigens. Tregs are considered to play a key role in the escape of cancer cells from anti-tumor effector T cells.

Cancer cells have been found to directly activate resting B cells to form suppressive regulatory B cells (tBregs) and utilize them to evade immune surveillance and mediate metastasis. tBregs directly inhibit CD4+ and CD8+ T cell activity in a cell contact-dependent manner, induce FoxP3+ T cell activity, and promote Treg-dependent metastasis.

Researchers from the National Institute on Aging (NIA), NIH, have developed methods for the generation of tBregs, and for using tBregs to produce Tregs, and methods that inactivate or deplete tBregs. These methods have significant therapeutic value in the combat with cancer immune escape and metastasis, and in the control of harmful autoimmune diseases.