Expression And Role Of Bregs Cells In The Peripheral Blood With Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients

Objective: To investigate the expression of regulatory B cells(CD19+CD24hi CD38 hi B cells) and(CD19+CD24hi CD27+B cells) in the peripheral blood of rheumatoid arthritis patients and its correlation with clinical features of the disease and responses of therapy. Methods:The percentages and fluorescence intensities of peripheral blood CD19+CD24hiCD38hi subpopulations from 95 RA and 32 healthy controls(HC) were measured by flow cytometry assay.Flowcytometry was conducted to analyze the frequency of Bregs(CDl9+CD24hiCD38hi)cells in peripheral CDl9+B cells and its correlation with the disease activity index(DAS28, ESR,hs CRP, RF, time of morning stiffnes,Visual Analogue Scale, tenderjointcount, swollenjointcount) and other related index(age,course of disease,joint funcation classification)were analyzed. Changes of Bregs cells in 25 RA patients after treatment were evaluated by a 6-month follow up study.In addition, 57 RA patients and 21 healthy persons were included in this study,the quantity and proportion of CD19+CD24hiCD27+Bregs were determined by flow eytometry. Flow cytometry was conducted to analyze the correlation between CD19+CD24hiCD27+Bregs percentages and clinical data. Results: The percentage of CDl9+CD24hi CD38 hi Bregs in RA patients(6.48±4.98)% was lower than that in HC group(7.23±3.40)%.CDl9+CD24hiCD38hiBregs in DAS28<3.2group,3.2≤DAS28≤5.1 group and DAS28>5.1group were(6.09±4.35)%,(6.15±5.28)% and(7.16±4.94)% respectively. Spearman correlation analysis revealed that percentages of CDl9+CD24hiCD38hiBregs were positively correlated with morning stiffness duration and were reversely correlated with age and anti-CCP antibody titers. Changes of CDl9+CD24hiCD38hiBregs were related with responses of therapy in the follow-up study. Expression of CDl9+CD24hiCD38hiBregss increased while RA deteriorated, whereas, CDl9+CD24hiCD38hiBregss decreased while disease ameliorated and/or patients stayed stable.The percentage of CD19+CD24hiCD27+Bregs in RA patients(12.36±7.08)% was higher than that in HC group(7.67±3.54)%, but the difference was no statistically significant(p>0.05). CD19+CD24hiCD27+Bregs in DAS28<3.2 group, DAS28≥3.2 group were(9.07±6.27)% and(7.67 ± 3.54)%,There was also no statistically significant between them. Spearman correlation analysis revealed that percentages of CD19+CD24hiCD27+Bregs were negatively correlated with age, disease process, ESR,hs CRP and RF,anti-CCP antibody titers, DAS28. Conclusion: Expression of CDl9+CD24hi CD38 hi Bregs increased while RA deteriorated, whereas, CDl9+CD24hiCD38hiBregs decreased while disease ameliorated and/or patients stayed stable. CDl9+CD24hiCD38hiBregs are associated with severity of disease.