Yu Zhang a Assistant Professors of Medicine in the department of Hematology/Oncology from The University of Miami Health System Yu Zhang a Assistant Professors of Medicine in the department of Hematology/Oncology from The University of Miami Health System

Study the role of B cell in regulation of anti-tumor response in solid tumor. Identify a subset of the B regulatory cells in the solid tumor and their phenotype and function in suppressing T cell anti-tumor response. In mouse model, B cells upon migration into tumor microenvironment and in contact with tumor cells become suppressor cells like T regulatory cells, we named that subset of B cells as B regulatory cells (Breg cells). This type of B cells over-express inhibitory co-stimulatory molecules, such as CD86, PD-L1, B7-H2, and membrane-bound TGF-b. These Bregs suppressed CD4 and CD8 T cell activation, proliferation and Th1 cytokine secretion in vitro and in vivo. Similar Breg activity may be identified in human solid tumors as well as lymphoid malignancies. Whether Breg populations could be targeted in an effort to enhance anti-tumor T cell responses requires better definition of the immune suppressive Breg population in man.