Splenic marginal zone B cells restrict Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection by shaping the cytokine pattern and cell-mediated immunity

• Main Authors: Tsai, Chen-Yu, Oo, Myo, Peh, Jih Hou, Yeo, Benjamin C. M., Aptekmann, Ariel, Lee, Bernett, Liu, Joe J. J., Tsao, Wen-Shan, Dick, Thomas, Fink, Katja, Gengenbacher, Martin
• Other Authors: Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (LKCMedicine)
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2024
• Subjects: Medicine, Health and Life Sciences; Age-associated B cells; Marginal zone B cells
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/181646
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Understanding the role of B cells in tuberculosis (TB) is crucial for developing new TB vaccines. However, the changes in B cell immune landscapes during TB and their functional implications remain incompletely explored. Using high-dimensional flow cytometry to map the immune landscape in response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection, our results show an accumulation of marginal zone B (MZB) cells and other unconventional B cell subsets in the lungs and spleen, shaping an unconventional B cell landscape. These MZB cells exhibit activated and memory-like phenotypes, distinguishing their functional profiles from those of conventional B cells. Notably, functional studies show that MZB cells produce multiple cytokines and contribute to systemic protection against TB by shaping cytokine patterns and cell-mediated immunity. These changes in the immune landscape are reversible upon successful TB chemotherapy. Our study suggests that, beyond antibody production, targeting the regulatory function of B cells may be a valuable strategy for TB vaccine development.