Oestrogen treatment of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis requires 17β-oestradiol-receptor-positive B cells that up-regulate PD-1 on CD4⁺ Foxp3⁺ regulatory T cells

It is now well accepted that sex hormones have immunoregulatory activity and may prevent exacerbations in multiple sclerosis during pregnancy. Our previous studies demonstrated that oestrogen (17β-oestradiol; E₂) protection against experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is mediated mainly through oestrogen receptor-α (ERα) and the membrane receptor G-protein-coupled receptor 30 (GPR30) and is abrogated in the absence of B cells and the co-inhibitory receptor, Programmed Death-1 (PD-1). To critically evaluate the cell source of the E₂ and PD-1 co-inhibitory pathways in EAE regulation, we assessed the requirement for ERs on transferred B cells and downstream effects on expression of PD-1/PD-ligand on CD4⁺ Foxp3⁺ regulatory T (Treg) cells in B-cell-replenished, E₂-treated B-cell-deficient (μMT^-/-) mice with EAE. The results clearly demonstrated involvement of ERα and GPR30 on transferred B cells that mediated the protective E₂ treatment effect on EAE and further showed an E₂-mediated B-cell-dependent up-regulation of PD-1 on CD4⁺ Foxp3⁺ Treg cells. These findings identify regulatory B-cell populations as key players in potentiating Treg-cell activity during E₂-mediated protection against EAE.