IL-35-producing B cells in gastric cancer patients

A significant characteristic of advanced gastric cancer (GC) is immune suppression, which can promote the progression of GC. Interleukin 35 (IL-35) is an immune-suppressing cytokine, and it is generally recognized that this cytokine is secreted by regulatory T (Treg) cells. Recently, studies have found that IL-35 can also be produced by B cells in mice. However, scientific studies reporting that IL-35 is secreted by B cells in humans, specifically in cancer patients, are very rare. Blood samples were collected from 30 healthy controls (HCs) and 50 untreated GC patients, and IL-35-producing B cells in the peripheral blood were investigated. Moreover, Treg cells (CD4(+)CD25(high/+)CD127(low/−)), myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) (CD14(+)HLA-DR(low/−)) and other lymphocyte subsets (CD3(+), CD4(+), CD8(+) T cells, activated and memory CD4(+) T cells, activated CD8(+) T cells, CD14(+) monocytes, and IL-10-producing B cells) were also examined. IL-35-producing B cells were significantly upregulated in patients with advanced GC. Furthermore, the frequency of IL-35-producing B cells was positively correlated with the frequencies of Treg cells (CD4(+)CD25(high/+)CD127(low/−)), MDSCs (CD14(+)HLA-DR(low/−)), IL-10-producing B cells, and CD14(+) monocytes in these GC patients. In summary, the frequency of IL-35-producing B cells is significantly elevated in advanced GC; this outcome implies that this group of B cells may participate in GC progression.