Breg-Mediated Immunoregulation in the Skin

Abstract

Wound healing is a complex process involving a coordinated series of events aimed at restoring tissue integrity and function. Regulatory B cells (Bregs) are a subset of B lymphocytes that play an essential role in fine-tuning immune responses and maintaining immune homeostasis. Recent studies have suggested that Bregs are important players in cutaneous immunity. This review summarizes the current understanding of the role of Bregs in skin immunity in health and pathology, such as diabetes, psoriasis, systemic sclerosis, cutaneous lupus erythematosus, cutaneous hypersensitivity, pemphigus, and dermatomyositis. We discuss the mechanisms by which Bregs maintain tissue homeostasis in the wound microenvironment through the promotion of angiogenesis, suppression of effector cells, and induction of regulatory immune cells. We also mention the potential clinical applications of Bregs in promoting wound healing, such as the use of adoptive Breg transfer.

Keywords: immune regulation; inflammatory skin pathology; regulatory B cells; skin homeostasis; tissue regeneration; wound healing.

Figure 1

Immunosuppressive mechanisms involved in Breg-mediated cutaneous wound healing include suppression of inflammatory responses. Mechanisms involved in inhibiting effector cells are shown in the red area on the left; activation of suppressor cell types and promotion of angiogenesis are depicted in the green area on the right. Breg, regulatory B cells; CTL, cytotoxic T cells; iNKT, invariant natural killer T cells; M1, classically activated macrophages; M2, alternatively activated macrophages; MDSC, myeloid-derived suppressor cells; NK, natural killers; pDC, plasmacytoid dendritic cells; Th, T helper cells; Treg, regulatory T cells. Created with BioRender.com, accessed on 24 November 2023.

Figure 2

Regulatory B cells are implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammatory skin diseases. Created with BioRender.com, accessed on 24 November 2023.