Artemisinin attenuates IgM xenoantibody production via inhibition of T cell‐independent marginal zone B cell proliferation

• Published in: Journal of leukocyte biology Vol. 109; no. 3; pp. 583 - 591
• Main Authors: Liu, Lihua, Zhao, Juanzhi, Li, An, Yang, Xuan, Sprangers, Ben, Li, Shengqiao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.03.2021
• Subjects: Animals; Antibodies, Heterophile - biosynthesis; Antibody Formation - drug effects; Antigens, CD - metabolism; Artemisinins - pharmacology; B-Lymphocytes - cytology; B-Lymphocytes - drug effects; Cell Proliferation - drug effects; humoral immunity; IL‐10; immunization; Immunoglobulin M - biosynthesis; Interleukin-10 - metabolism; Lymphocyte Subsets - cytology; Lymphocyte Subsets - drug effects; Male; marginal zone; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mice, Nude; murine model; regulatory B cells; Spleen - immunology; T-Lymphocytes - drug effects; T-Lymphocytes - immunology; humoral immunity; murine model; immunization; regulatory B cells; IL-10; marginal zone
• ISSN: 0741-5400; 1938-3673
• DOI: 10.1002/JLB.4MA0520-717RRR

Artemisinin (ART) has been shown to suppress B cell activation and plasma cell formation. However, its effect on splenic marginal zone (MZ) B cells is unknown. Splenic MZ B cells play a critical role in rapidly induced Ab production against blood‐borne foreign Ags. Dysfunction of MZ B cells, due to inhibition of its proliferation or displacement of its homing, results in an attenuated adaptive humoral response. Here, we investigate the effect of ART on splenic MZ B (CD19+CD21highCD23low) and B10 (CD19+CD1dhighCD5+) B cells to explore the mechanisms of ART‐induced immunosuppression in T cell‐deficient nude mice challenged with hamster xenoantigens. In this study, we demonstrate that ART decreases T cell‐independent xenogeneic IgM Ab production and, this is associated with a strong suppression of MZ B cell proliferation and a relative increase of CD21lowCD23+ follicular and B10 B cells. In addition, this suppression impairs IL‐10 production. Taken together, our data indicate that ART suppresses B cell immune responses through a distinctive effect on splenic MZ B and other B cells. This represents a new mechanism of ART‐induced immunosuppression. Graphical Shows artemisinin decreases T cell‐independent xenogeneic immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibody production, inhibiting marginal zone B cells and suppressing IL‐10 production.