Endogenously produced catecholamines improve the regulatory function of TLR9-activated B cells

PLoS Biol. 2022 Jan 24;20(1):e3001513. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001513. eCollection 2022 Jan.

Abstract

The sympathetic nervous system (SNS) contributes to immune balance by promoting anti-inflammatory B cells. However, whether B cells possess a self-regulating mechanism by which they modulate regulatory B cell (Breg) function is not well understood. In this study, we investigated the ability of B cells to synthesize their own catecholamines upon stimulation with different B cell activators and found that expression of the enzyme tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), required to generate catecholamines, is up-regulated by Toll-like receptor (TLR)9. This TLR9-dependent expression of TH correlated with up-regulation of adrenergic receptors (ADRs), enhanced interleukin (IL)-10 production, and overexpression of the co-inhibitory ligands programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) and Fas ligand (FasL). Moreover, concomitant stimulation of ß1-3-ADRs together with a B cell receptor (BCR)/TLR9 stimulus clearly enhances the anti-inflammatory potential of Bregs to suppress CD4 T cells, a crucial population in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases, like rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Furthermore, TH up-regulation was also demonstrated in B cells during the course of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA), a mouse model for the investigation of RA. In conclusion, our data show that B cells possess an autonomous mechanism to modulate their regulatory function in an autocrine and/or paracrine manner. These findings help to better understand the function of B cells in the regulation of autoimmune diseases and the interplay of SNS.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arthritis, Experimental / immunology
  • Arthritis, Experimental / metabolism
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / immunology
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / metabolism
  • B-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / metabolism*
  • B7-H1 Antigen / metabolism
  • Catecholamines / metabolism
  • Catecholamines / pharmacology*
  • Collagen / administration & dosage
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Fas Ligand Protein / metabolism
  • Interleukin-10 / metabolism
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Toll-Like Receptor 9 / metabolism*
  • Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / metabolism

Substances

  • B7-H1 Antigen
  • Catecholamines
  • Fas Ligand Protein
  • Toll-Like Receptor 9
  • Interleukin-10
  • Collagen
  • Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase

Grants and funding

N.H. was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) fellowship (PO801/8-1). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.