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INTRODUCTION: B lymphocytes might play a pathogenic role in dermal fibrosis in systemic sclerosis (SSc). B-cell activating factor (BAFF), a key cytokine for B-cell activation, is increased in the serum and the skin of patients with SSc. However, the ability of B cells directly to stimulate dermal fibroblasts and the role of BAFF are not fully understood. We therefore investigated the involvement of B cells and BAFF in the expression of collagen and profibrotic markers by dermal fibroblasts. METHODS: Cocultures of blood B cells from healthy blood donors and normal or SSc dermal fibroblasts stimulated with anti-IgM and BAFF were performed. Alpha-SMA, TIMP1, MMP9, COL1A1, COL1A2, and COL3A1 mRNA expression were determined by quantitative RT-PCR. Soluble collagen, BAFF, IL-6, IL-1β, TGF-β1, and CCL2 protein secretion were assessed. RESULTS: Coculture of blood B cells and dermal fibroblasts isolated from SSc patients induced IL-6, TGF-β1, CCL2, and collagen secretion, as well as Alpha-SMA, TIMP1, and MMP9 expression in dermal fibroblasts. Transwell assays demonstrated that this induction was dependent on cell-cell contact. Addition of anti-IgM and BAFF to the coculture increased IL-6, CCL2, TGF-β1, and collagen secretion. B cell- and BAFF-induced collagen secretion was highly reduced by anti-TGF-β1 antibodies. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed for the first time a direct role of B cells on the production of collagen by dermal fibroblasts, which is further enhanced by BAFF. Thus, these results demonstrate a new pathogenic role of B cells and BAFF in fibrosis and systemic sclerosis.

Original publication

DOI

10.1186/ar4352

Type

Journal article

Journal

Arthritis Res Ther

Publication Date

28/10/2013

Volume

15

Keywords

Actins, Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic, B-Cell Activating Factor, B-Lymphocytes, Cells, Cultured, Chemokine CCL2, Coculture Techniques, Collagen, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, Fibroblasts, Fibrosis, Gene Expression, Humans, Immunoglobulin M, Interleukin-6, Matrix Metalloproteinase 9, Muscle, Smooth, Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction, Scleroderma, Systemic, Skin, Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1, Transforming Growth Factor beta1