5-HT induces regulatory B cells in fighting against inflammation-driven ulcerative colitis

Minjie Wan; Zhanchuan Ma; Jiawen Han; Min Rao; Feng Hu; Pujun Gao; Xiaocong Wang

doi:10.1016/j.intimp.2023.111042

5-HT induces regulatory B cells in fighting against inflammation-driven ulcerative colitis

Int Immunopharmacol. 2023 Dec;125(Pt A):111042. doi: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.111042. Epub 2023 Oct 23.

Authors

Minjie Wan¹, Zhanchuan Ma², Jiawen Han², Min Rao³, Feng Hu³, Pujun Gao⁴, Xiaocong Wang⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Hepatology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China; Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Lequn Branch, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China.
² Central Laboratory, Lequn Branch, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China.
³ Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Lequn Branch, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China.
⁴ Department of Hepatology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China.
⁵ Department of Echocardiography, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China. Electronic address: xiaocong@jlu.edu.cn.

PMID: 37866311
DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.111042

Abstract

Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine or 5-HT) is a neuroendocrine peptide endowed with immunomodulatory functions. Regulatory B cells (Bregs) play an important role in maintaining intestinal immune homeostasis. We analyzed the differences of 5-HT and Bregs between peripheral blood of ulcerative colitis (UC) and healthy controls (HC). Besides, 5-HT-treated B cells were adoptively transferred into colitis mice to elucidate the role of 5-HT in regulating Bregs. The level of serum 5-HT and IL-10 in UC patients was lower and both were negatively correlated with disease activity. 5-HT₇ receptor (5-HT₇R) was higher expressed on Bregs in UC. 5-HT promoted IL-10 production in Bregs through the activation of STAT3. And adoptive transfer of 5-HT-treated B cells alleviated intestinal inflammation via inducing IL-10-producing B cells in mice. Our results suggest that 5-HT/5-HT₇R signaling pathway facilitate functional Bregs in constraining inflammation in UC, which may be a new potential prospect in the treatment of UC.

Keywords: 5-HT; 5-HT(7) receptor; Interleukin 10; Regulatory B cells; Serotonin; Ulcerative colitis.

MeSH terms

Animals
B-Lymphocytes, Regulatory*
Colitis*
Colitis, Ulcerative*
Disease Models, Animal
Humans
Inflammation
Interleukin-10 / metabolism
Mice
Serotonin / metabolism

Substances

Serotonin
Interleukin-10