Featured
Publications
CD30 Signaling in B Lymphocytes as Trigger for Chronic Inflammation
A research study led by Dr. Lothar J. Strobl and Dr. Ursula Zimber-Strobl from the Institute of Lung Health and Immunity (LHI) at Helmholtz Munich sheds new light on the potential role of CD30, a receptor protein, in regulating immune responses and chronic inflammation. While CD30 is widely recognized as a diagnostic marker for a white blood cell cancer form called Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, its role in other conditions, such as its physiological function in immunological processes, has remained largely unexplored. Now, the researchers indicate that a strong increase in CD30-positive B lymphocytes could actively contribute to immune dysregulation and chronic inflammation, potentially promoting illnesses like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Advancing Our Understanding of Diseases Linked With Chronic Inflammation
Using a specially designed mouse model, the team could control CD30 levels in B cells (B lymphocytes), a type of white blood cells that plays a key role in the immune system by producing antibodies in response to pathogens. In older mice with consistently CD30-positive B cells, the researchers observed a significant increase in various immune cells, including B cells, T cells and myeloid cells. There was also a noticeable rise in specific types of B cells, called germinal center B cells and IgG1 class-switched B cells, that help control immune responses. These immune cells are associated with chronic inflammation, suggesting that CD30 could play a previously underestimated role in exacerbating immune responses.
“This study provides valuable insights into our understanding of immune-mediated disorders in which chronic inflammation is a key factor,” so Lothar J. Strobl, principal investigator of the “B Cell Development and Activation” research group at the LHI at Helmholtz Munich and shared last author of the study.
Implications for COPD Research and Therapeutic Development
The team’s recent findings are now being applied to the study of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a condition of significant medical and socio-economic importance. Chronic activation of B lymphocytes is known to play a key role in COPD pathogenesis. The research group intends to investigate the role of CD30 in this context further, with the ultimate aim of identifying new, more effective therapeutic strategies for the prevention and treatment of COPD.
Original publication
Wang et al. (2024): CD30 influences germinal center B cell dynamics and the expansion of IgG1-switched B cells. Cellular and Molecular Immunology. DOI: 10.1038/s41423-024-01219-w
