B cells from Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis Show Conserved CD39-Mediated Regulatory Function and increased CD39 Expression After Positive Response to Therapy

ZACCA, E.R.; AMEZCUA VESELY, M.C.; FERRERO, P.V.; ACOSTA, C.D.V.; PONCE, N.E.; BOSSIO, S.N.; MUSSANO, E.; ONETTI, L.; CADILE, I.; ACOSTA RODRÍGUEZ, E.V.; MONTES, C.L.; GRUPPI, A.

JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

ACADEMIC PRESS LTD-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

Año: 2020

0022-2836

heumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by progressive joint destruction associated with increased pro-inflammatory mediators. In inflammatory microenvironments, exogenous ATP (eATP) is hydrolyzed to adenosine, which exerts immunosuppressive effects, by the consecutive action of the ectonucleotidases CD39 and CD73. Mature B cells constitutively express both ectonucleotidases, converting these cells to potential suppressors. Here, we assessed CD39 and CD73 expression on B cells from treated or untreated patients with RA. Neither the frequency of CD73+CD39+ and CD73-CD39+ B cell subsets nor the levels of CD73 and CD39 expression on B cells from untreated or treated RA patients showed significant changes in comparison to healthy controls (HC). CpG+IL-2-stimulated B cells from HC or untreated RA patients increased their CD39 expression, and suppressed CD4+ and CD8+ T cell proliferation and intracellular TNF-production. A CD39 inhibitor significantly restor