Regulatory B-cells (Breg) play an important role in reducing autoimmunity and reduced levels of these cells are implicated in etiology of several auto-inflammatory diseases. Despite their impact in many diseases, their physiological inducers are unknown. Given that Bregs are a very rare B-cell, identifying factors that promote their development would allow in vivo modulation of Breg levels and ex-vivo production of large amounts of antigen-specific Bregs to use in immunotherapy for auto-inflammatory diseases. Researchers at NEI's Molecular Immunology Section developed a method for the ex-vivo production of Breg. The method of production involves treating isolated primary B-cells or B-cell lines with IL-35 to induce their conversion into IL-10, producing Breg. Using this method, B-regulatory cells can be produced in large quantity and used in a Breg-based therapy against autoimmune diseases including, but not limited to, uveitis and sarcoidosis. In vivo animal data are available.