Defective Regulatory B Cells Are Associated With Thyroid-Associated Ophthalmopathy.

Purpose: To investigate the change in IL-10-producing regulatory B cells (Breg), which suppress peripheral immune responses, in patients with thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO).

Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from healthy controls (n = 54), patients with Graves disease (n = 26), and patients with TAO (N=125), and stimulated with CpG/CD40L. The frequency of IL-10-producing Bregs and the expression of IL-10 in response to TSH stimulation were measured by flow cytometry.