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Objective: Bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) have been tentatively applied in the treatment of glucocorticoid‐induced osteoporosis (GIOP) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, the effects of BMSCs on osteoporosis within the context of glucocorticoid (GC) application in SLE remain unclear. Our aim was to explore the roles of BMSCs and different doses of GC interventions on osteoporosis in SLE murine models. Methods: MRL/MpJ‐Faslpr mice were divided into eight groups with BMSC treatment and different dose of GC intervention. Three‐dimensional imaging analysis and hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining were performed to observe morphological changes. The concentrations of osteoprotegerin (OPG) and receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand (RANKL) in serum were measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The subpopulation of B cells and T cells in bone marrows and spleens were analyzed by flow cytometry. Serum cytokines and chemokines were assessed using Luminex magnetic bead technology. Results: BMSCs ameliorated osteoporosis in murine SLE models by enhancing bone mass, improving bone structure, and promoting bone formation through increased bone mineral content and optimization of trabecular morphology. BMSC and GC treatments reduced the number of B cells in bone marrows, but the effect was not significant in spleens. BMSCs significantly promoted the expression of IL‐10 while reducing IL‐18. Moreover, BMSCs exert immunomodulatory effects by reducing Th17 expression and rectifying the Th17/Treg imbalance. Conclusion: BMSCs effectively alleviate osteoporosis induced by SLE itself, as well as osteoporosis resulting from SLE combined with various doses of GC therapy. The therapeutic effects of BMSCs appear to be mediated by their influence on bone marrow B cells, T cell subsets, and associated cytokines. High‐dose GC treatment exerts a potent anti‐inflammatory effect but may hinder the immunotherapeutic potential of BMSCs. Our research may offer valuable guidance to clinicians regarding the use of BMSC treatment in SLE and provide insights into the judicious use of GCs in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inducible costimulator (ICOS) and its ligand (ICOSL) are critical to regulate the immune response in autoimmune diseases. The participation of B lymphocytes exhibits pathogenic potential in the disease process of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, the precise role of ICOSL in RA remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to explore the regulatory effects of CD19 + ICOSL + B cells in the pathogenesis of RA. We demonstrated the increased expression of ICOS and ICOSL in patients with RA and collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mice. The population of CD19 + ICOSL + B-cell subset was significantly correlated with clinicopathological characteristics of RA patients and CIA mice. Adoptive transfer of CD19 + ICOSL + B cells aggravated arthritic progression in CIA mice. Moreover, microarray analysis revealed that CD19 + ICOSL + cells could exert pivotal effect in pathological process of RA. Further blocking of ICOSL significantly inhibited proinflammatory responses and ameliorated arthritic progression. Therefore, CD19 + ICOSL + B-cell subset could be defined as a specific pathogenic cell subpopulation involved in immunopathological damage of RA. Blockade of ICOSL is promising to be a potential new approach for RA therapy., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Ding, Sun, Jiang, Chang, Shen, Gu and Liu.)