As the most common chronic disease in childhood, asthma displays a major public health problem worldwide with the incidence of those affected rising. As there is currently no cure for allergic asthma, it is mandatory to get a better understanding of the underlying molecular mechanism. By producing IgE antibodies upon allergen contact, B cells play a pivotal role in allergic asthma. Besides that, IL-10-secreting B cell subsets, namely regulatory B cells (Bregs), are reported in mice and humans to play a role in allergic asthma. In humans, several Breg subsets with distinct phenotypic and functional properties are identified among B cells at different maturational and differentiation stages that exert anti-inflammatory functions by expressing several suppressor molecules. Emerging research has focused on the role of Bregs in allergic asthma as well as their role for future diagnostic and preventive strategies. Knowledge about the exact function of human Bregs in allergic asthma is still very limited. This review aims to summarize the current knowledge on Bregs. We discuss different human Breg subsets, several ways of Breg induction as well as the mechanisms through which they exert immunoregulatory functions, and their role in (childhood) allergic asthma.

中文翻译：

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调节性 B 细胞在免疫调节和儿童过敏性哮喘中的作用

作为儿童期最常见的慢性疾病，哮喘是世界范围内的一个重大公共卫生问题，其发病率不断上升。由于目前无法治愈过敏性哮喘，因此必须更好地了解潜在的分子机制。通过在接触过敏原时产生 IgE 抗体，B 细胞在过敏性哮喘中发挥着关键作用。除此之外，据报道，分泌 IL-10 的 B 细胞亚群，即调节性 B 细胞 (Breg)，在小鼠和人类中在过敏性哮喘中发挥作用。在人类中，在不同成熟和分化阶段的 B 细胞中发现了几个具有不同表型和功能特性的 Breg 亚群，这些 B 细胞通过表达多种抑制分子来发挥抗炎功能。新兴研究重点关注 Bregs 在过敏性哮喘中的作用及其在未来诊断和预防策略中的作用。关于人类 Bregs 在过敏性哮喘中的确切功能的知识仍然非常有限。这篇综述旨在总结当前关于 Bregs 的知识。我们讨论了不同的人类 Breg 亚群、Breg 诱导的几种方式以及它们发挥免疫调节功能的机制，以及它们在（儿童）过敏性哮喘中的作用。