Shift in the B cell subsets between children with type 1 diabetes and/or celiac disease

Artikel i vetenskaplig tidskrift, 2024

Our purpose was to characterize the pattern of B cell subsets in children with a combined diagnosis of type 1 diabetes (T1D) and celiac disease (C) since children with single or double diagnosis of these autoimmune diseases may differ in peripheral B cell subset phenotype patterns. B cells were analyzed with flow cytometry for the expression of differentiation/maturation markers to identify transitional, naive, and memory B cells. Transitional (CD24(hi)CD38(hi)CD19(+)) and memory Bregs (mBregs; CD24(hi)CD27(+)CD19(+), CD1d(+)CD27(+)CD19(+), and CD5(+)CD1d(+)CD19(+)) were classified as B cells with regulatory capacity. Children with a combined diagnosis of T1D and C showed a pattern of diminished peripheral B cell subsets. The B cells compartment in children with combined diagnosis had higher percentages of memory B subsets and Bregs, including activated subsets, compared to children with either T1D or C. Children with combined diagnosis had a lower percentage of naive B cells (CD27(-)CD19(+); IgD(+)CD19(+)) and an increased percentage of memory B cells (CD27(+)CD19(+); IgD(-)CD19(+)). A similar alteration was seen among the CD39(+) expressing naive and memory B cells. Memory Bregs (CD1d(+)CD27(+)CD19(+)) were more frequent, contrary to the lower percentage of CD5(+) transitional Bregs in children with a combined diagnosis. In children with either T1D or C, the peripheral B cell compartment was dominated by naive cells. Differences in the pattern of heterogeneous peripheral B cell repertoire subsets reflect a shifting in the B cell compartment between children with T1D and/or C. This is an immunological challenge of impact on the pathophysiology of these autoimmune diseases. A larger compartment of naive B and Breg subsets, including activated subsets, and smaller compartment of the memory B and Breg subsets are seen in children with isolated type 1 diabetes (T1D) or celiac disease (C). In children with the combined diagnosis, a shifting of the naive B subset compartment toward a more mature/differentiated B cell compartment was observed, indicating another type of disturbance of the B cell mediated immune regulation compared to what is present in the context of only one isolated autoimmune disease. Differences in the pattern of heterogeneous peripheral B cell repertoire subsets reflect a shifting in the B cell compartment between children with T1D and/or C.