Aberrant frequency of IL-10-producing B cells and its association with Treg and MDSC cells in Non Small Cell Lung Carcinoma patients

ObjectivesB regulatory cells (Bregs) are a newly described subpopulation of B cells that play important roles in autoimmunity, however, whether play an important role in cancer is relatively unknown. Herein, we investigated the role of IL-10 producing B cells in Non Small Cell Lung Carcinoma (NSCLC).Methods18 healthy controls (HC) and 66 untreated patients with NSCLC were enrolled. Next to IL-10 producing B cells, CD4+CD25+/highCD127low/− regulatory T (Treg) cells and CD14+HLA-DRlow/− myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) were determined via flow cytometry.ResultsUpregulation of IL-10 producing B cells was associated with the NSCLC progression. Furthermore, this B cell subset was positively correlated with the frequency of CD4+CD25+/highCD127low/− Treg cells, also with the frequency of CD14+HLA-DRlow/− MDSCs in these NSCLC patients.ConclusionsTogether, IL-10 producing B cells are significantly elevated in NSCLC patients, indicating this B cell subset might play an important role in the clinical progression of NSCLC.