Comparison of allergen-stimulated dendritic cells from atopic and nonatopic donors dissecting their effect on autologous naive and memory T helper cells of such donors

BACKGROUND: Because of their production of IL-12, mature dendritic cells (DC) are potent inducers of T(H)1 responses. However, recent reports have demonstrated that DCs can also induce T(H)2 differentiation. OBJECTIVE: In the current study we investigated which immune response is induced by DCs in naive CD45RA(+) or memory CD45R0(+) CD4(+) T cells from atopic individuals (patients with grass pollen, birch pollen, or house dust mite allergy) compared with nonatopic control subjects. METHODS: Immature DCs, generated from peripheral blood monocytes from atopic and nonatopic donors, were pulsed with the respective allergen and fully matured. Then the mature DCs were cocultured in vitro with autologous naive (CD45RA(+)) and memory (CD45R0(+)) CD4(+) T cells and cytokine and IgE production were measured by ELISA. RESULTS: After the second restimulation with allergen-pulsed DCs, naive as well as memory autologous CD4(+) T cells from atopic but not from nonatopic donors showed an enhanced production of the T(H)2-type cytokines IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10, resulting in an increased IgE production, whereas IFN-gamma production and proliferation were not different. IL-12 production and surface marker expression of DCs derived from atopic and nonatopic donors did not differ and addition of neutralizing anti-IL-12 mAbs did not increase IL-4 but diminished IFN-gamma production. CONCLUSION: These data indicate that mature DCs are able to induce naive and activate allergen-specific T helper cells to produce T(H)2 cytokines if the T cells are derived from atopic donors. This phenomenon is not due to diminished IL-12 production by DCs of atopic donors.     

Dendritic cells contribute to the development of atopy by an insufficiency in IL-12 production.

BACKGROUND: IL-12 is a crucial factor in the development and course of allergic diseases. By virtue of their IL-12 production, dendritic cells (DCs) are potent inducers of T(H)1 responses. However, distinct subsets of DCs have also been shown to induce T(H)2 differentiation. OBJECTIVE: We hypothesized that DCs from atopic and nonatopic individuals might differ in their propensity to skew T-cell responses to either the T(H)1 type or the T(H)2 type. To this end, we investigated the cytokine patterns produced by DCs from atopic and nonatopic individuals, and we attempted to clarify whether this could be due to different DC lineages or, alternatively, to different microenvironmental factors. METHODS: DCs were generated from lymphocyte-depleted PBMCs from atopic and nonatopic donors and fully matured with monocyte-conditioned medium. Production of IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-12, and IL-13 in response to CD40 ligation was measured with ELISA. DC subsets were identified in PBMCs from freshly drawn blood by 3-color flow cytometry. RESULTS: Compared with DCs from healthy donors, monocyte-derived DCs from atopic patients produced less bioactive IL-12 and IL-10. DC production of IL-4, IL-13, and IL-5 was not detected. Relatively more CD123(+) DCs, corresponding to T(H)2-inducing "DC2s," were found in PBMCs from atopic patients. CONCLUSION: The data suggest that in addition to the described abnormalities in the patients' T-cell populations, DCs might also critically contribute to the atopic/allergic T(H)1 outcome in the patient and thus to the disease.     

Modification of the human allergic immune response by allergen-DNA-transfected dendritic cells in vitro

BACKGROUND: Atopic-allergic diseases are characterized by T(H)2-dominated immune responses, resulting in IgE production. DNA-based immunotherapies have been shown to shift the immune response toward a T(H)1-type response in animal models. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to analyze whether dendritic cells (DCs) transfected with allergen-DNA conjugates are able to stimulate human autologous CD4(+) T cells, CD8(+) T cells, or both from atopic individuals to produce T(H)1 cytokines instead of T(H)2 cytokines. METHODS: For this purpose, human mature DCs from atopic donors were transfected with an adenovirus encoding the allergen Phl p 1. Autologous CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells were stimulated with these transfected DCs, and proliferation and cytokine production were measured. RESULTS: By using an adenoviral vector, a transfection rate of 92% could be achieved. The proliferative response of CD4(+) T cells stimulated with autologous transfected DCs was concentration dependent and almost as high as that of T cells stimulated with mature allergen-pulsed DCs. The proliferation of CD8(+) T cells stimulated with transfected DCs, however, was higher than that of cells stimulated with allergen-pulsed DCs. The cytokine pattern showed a shift toward a T(H)1 immune response compared with T cells stimulated with allergen-pulsed DCs. CONCLUSIONS: Human DCs can be transfected with allergen-DNA conjugates very efficiently by using an adenoviral vector yielding DCs with high T-cell stimulatory capacities, directing the atopic-allergic immune response from T(H)2 dominance toward T(H)1 dominance.     

Differential expression of toll-like receptor 2 on dendritic cells from asymptomatic and symptomatic atopic donors

Background: Early microbial exposure may reduce the risk for developing allergies on an atopic genetic background. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) recognize pathogen-associated molecular patterns of microbes and modulate innate and adaptive immunity. Different expression of TLRs in symptomatic and asymptomatic atopic donors may contribute to the development of allergic disease. Methods: Monocytes and monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DCs) from symptomatic (n = 12) and asymptomatic atopic donors (n = 11), healthy nonatopics (n = 14) and from patients with psoriasis (n = 13) were analyzed for their expression of TLR2, TLR4 and TLR9 by real-time PCR. Results: Monocytes did not show any differences in TLR2, TLR4 and TLR9 expression between the 4 groups. In contrast, DCs from asymptomatic donors showed an enhanced expression of TLR2 over DCs from nonatopics (p = 0.038) and just failed to reach significance when compared to symptomatic atopic patients (p = 0.060). TLR2 expression kinetics from monocytes to monocyte-derived DCs showed sustained expression of TLR2 in DCs only from asymptomatic donors but downregulation in the other groups. In DCs from symptomatic atopic donors, the expression of TLR2 correlated significantly with total IgE values in the serum (p = 0.01994). Conclusion: Differential expression and functional regulation of TLR2 expression by DCs from symptomatic and asymptomatic atopic donors may be important for the manifestation of allergic disease. Increased and sustained TLR2 expression on DCs, possibly as a result of an increased exposure to microorganisms or as a mechanism enhancing the sensitivity of microbe detection, may be of functional importance for the maintenance of clinical unresponsiveness toward allergens.     

Inhibition of human allergic T-cell responses by IL-10-treated dendritic cells: differences from hydrocortisone-treated dendritic cells

BACKGROUND: Dendritic cells (DCs) are able to induce human allergic T(H)1 responses as well as T(H)2 responses. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we examined the effect of antiinflammatory agents such as IL-10 and hydrocortisone (HC) on the accessory function of DCs and the resulting T-cell response, especially that of T(H)2 cells. METHODS: Naive and memory CD4(+) T cells from atopic donors were stimulated with autologous allergen-pulsed DCs generated from CD14(+) monocytes by culture with GM-CSF/IL-4 and fully matured with IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha, and PGE(2) in the presence or absence of IL-10 or HC. RESULTS: IL-10-treated DCs and, to a lesser extent, HC-treated DCs showed a decreased expression of MHC II molecules, the costimulatory molecule CD86, and the DC-specific marker CD83, as well as a strongly reduced IL-12 secretion. Consequently, T-cell proliferation was reduced after stimulation with IL-10- or HC-treated DCs alike. However, pretreatment of DCs with IL-10 inhibited the production of T(H)1 and T(H)2 cytokines by T cells, whereas HC-treated DCs inhibited production of IFN-gamma but induced an increased release of IL-4 and no change in IL-5. Both effects were long-lasting; cytokine production remained low (which was due not to enhanced apoptosis but to functional hyporesponsiveness) or even increased after restimulation with fully matured DCs. CONCLUSION: These data indicate that IL-10- or HC-treated DCs differ in their ability to influence human allergic T-cell responses. This has major implications for therapeutic strategies aiming at the downregulation of proallergic T(H)2 responses.     

Dendritic cells from control but not atopic donors respond to contact and respiratory sensitizer treatment in vitro with differential cytokine production and altered stimulatory capacity

Background Chemical haptens induce both contact and allergic respiratory disease with dendritic cells (DCs) controlling and directing immune responses in vivo . Contact and respiratory haptens may promote differential cytokine production yet distinguishing these effects in vitro remains difficult due to human donor variability.
Objective We sought to determine the effect of atopic status on the ability of DC to respond to contact and respiratory sensitizer treatment in vitro as DC from atopic donors are believed to promote Th2-type responses.
Methods Enriched DC from control or atopic donors were treated for 4 h with levels of the contact sensitizer 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) or the respiratory sensitizer trimellitic anhydride (TMA) that did not reduce cell viability. A sensitive intracellular detection technique was used to measure cytokine production, while T cell responses were assessed in a mixed leucocyte reaction.
Results DC from control, non-atopic, donors produced cytokines differentially in response to sensitizer treatment; DNCB treatment significantly increased the production of Th1 cytokines IL-12 and IFN-γ while TMA induced the production of IL-13. Control donor DC treated with TMA stimulated less in a mixed leucocyte reaction than untreated cells with any response reduced further by blocking IL-13 in culture. However, DC from atopic donors showed no significant alteration in either cytokine production or T cell stimulatory capacity after sensitizer treatment.
Conclusion Haptens modulate DC by changing the production of cytokines that may play a role in T cell stimulation and subsequent polarization of the immune response. DC from atopic donors were unresponsive to chemical sensitizer treatment, and may be deficient in inducing divergent T cell responses.     

Thymic stromal lymphopoietin converts human epidermal Langerhans cells into antigen-presenting cells that induce proallergic T cells

BACKGROUND: Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) endows human CD11c(+) dendritic cells (DCs) from peripheral blood with the capacity to induce proallergic T cells. TSLP is present at high levels in the epidermis of atopic dermatitis where it appears to trigger emigration of epidermal Langerhans cells (LCs); however, nothing else is known about the influence of TSLP on LCs. OBJECTIVE: Effects of TSLP on human epidermal LCs were investigated. METHODS: LCs were isolated by trypsinization from healthy human skin, highly enriched by immunomagnetic techniques (via CD1a) and cultured for 2 days. Additionally, migratory LCs were obtained by emigration from epidermal sheets for 3 days. RESULTS: The addition of TSLP promoted survival and maturation of LCs obtained by trypsinization, as indicated by their increased expression of CD83, CD86, and high levels of MHC II. TSLP markedly increased numbers of migratory LCs. Allogeneic na?ve CD4(+) T cells, cocultured with migratory TSLP-LCs produced less IFN-gamma and IL-10 and more IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, and TNF-alpha. Finally, TSLP-LCs secreted markedly more of the T(H)2 T-cell-attracting chemokine CCL17/thymus and activation-regulated chemokine. CONCLUSION: These cytokine patterns correspond to those described for TSLP-treated blood DCs. They highlight a direct effect of TSLP on epidermal LCs. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Our data emphasize a critical role for LCs in the triggering of atopic dermatitis. Furthermore, they underscore the interest in TSLP as a potential therapeutic target in atopic diseases.     

干扰素-α联合GM－CSF诱导慢性髓性白血病细胞向树突状细胞分化

目的：研究干扰素-α（IFN-α）对慢性髓性白血病（CML）骨髓单个核细胞来源的树突状细胞（DCs）发育的影响。 方法： 12例初发慢性期CML患者的骨髓单个核细胞，分别与含如下细胞因子,RPMI-1640培养液共育：rhGM-CSF 1×106U/L联合rhIFN-α 2×106U/L（IFN-α组）、rhGM-CSF 1×10⁶U/L联合rhIL-4 5×10⁵U/L（IL-4组）、单用rhGM-CSF 1×10⁶U/L和单用rhIFN-α 2×106U/L，培养7 d；于第8-10 d，部分孔加入rhTNF-α 5×10⁴U/L。形态学（Wright染色、倒置显微镜）、免疫学（CD80、CD86、CD83、CD1a、HLA-DR）检测；磷脂酰丝氨酸（PS）转位检测 DCs凋亡情况；荧光原位杂交（FISH）对1例CML进行细胞遗传学分析；混合淋巴细胞反应（MLR）检测刺激同种异体T淋巴细胞增殖的能力。 结果： CML骨髓单个核细胞经上述细胞因子诱导7 d后，IFN-α组和IL-4组均呈现树突状细胞的典型形态；免疫学鉴定，IFN-α组DCs CD80、CD86、CD83、HLA-DR的表达显著高于IL-4组（P<0.05），经5×104U/L rhTNF-α作用后，两组DCs CD80、CD86、CD83、HLA-DR进一步上调，其中IFN-α组DCs CD80、CD86、CD83、HLA-DR的表达显著高于IL-4组（P<0.05）；经FISH证实来源于白血病细胞；两组DCs均具有刺激同种异体T淋巴细胞增殖的能力，IFN-α组刺激淋巴细胞增殖的能力明显高于IL-4组(P<0.05)。 结论： IFN-α可促进CML骨髓单个核细胞来源的树突状细胞的分化、活化。这可能是IFN-α在CML中的治疗机制之一。     

Mycobacterium bovis Bacillus Calmette-Guérin suppresses inflammatory Th2 responses by inducing functional alteration of TSLP-activated dendritic cells

Allergic diseases such as atopic dermatitis and asthma develop as a consequence of dysregulated T(h)2 responses. Recently, it has been demonstrated that interaction between dendritic cells (DCs) and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), an IL-7-like cytokine, is essential for evoking T(h)2 responses in allergy. In this study, we investigated whether Mycobacterium bovis Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), a strong T(h)1 response-inducing adjuvant, can alter the function of DCs activated by TSLP (TSLP-DCs). We demonstrated that BCG redirects TSLP-DCs away from inducing inflammatory T(h)2 cells that produce IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and toward regulatory T(h)1 cells that produce IFN-gamma and IL-10. We also demonstrated that this functional alteration of TSLP-DCs by BCG depended on both production of IL-12 from DCs and down-regulation of OX40 ligand, a member of the TNF family, on DCs. These findings suggest that BCG might be a useful adjuvant for the treatment of allergic diseases that are triggered by TSLP.     

Malassezia enhances natural killer cell-induced dendritic cell maturation

Human natural killer (NK) cells can induce cell death in autologous dendritic cells (DCs), though an interaction between these two cell types can also lead to a reciprocal activation. We have recently shown cell contact between NK cells and DCs in vivo, in Malassezia-induced lesional skin of patients with atopic eczema, where the yeast acts as an allergen although it is part of the normal skin microflora. Here we characterize the interaction of human NK cells and monocyte-derived DCs (MDDCs) by using an in vitro system where short-term activated polyclonal NK cells are cocultured with autologous, immature, Malassezia-stimulated or lipopolysaccharide-matured MDDCs. We found that the number of CD83(+) MDDCs increased in the immature and Malassezia-stimulated MDDCs upon coculture with NK cells, while an increased number of CD86(+) cells was detected in the Malassezia-stimulated MDDCs. NK cell-MDDC interaction induced the production of interleukin-8 (IL-8). In conclusion, our results imply that NK cells provide maturation signals and may play a role in inducing IL-8 production in DCs. Furthermore, the increased expression of CD86 on Malassezia-stimulated MDDCs might have a function in subsequent T-cell activation by DCs, and indicate a role for NK cell-DC interaction in modulating the immune responses to microbial stimuli.     

Human CD4+CD25+ T cells derived from the majority of atopic donors are able to suppress TH1 and TH2 cytokine production

BACKGROUND: Recently, it has been established that CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells with regulatory capacity are present in human peripheral blood, inhibiting allogeneic proliferation and cytokine production of preactivated CD4(+)CD25(-) respond-er T cells. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze in an allergen-specific setting whether such regulatory CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells also exist and function normally in atopic individuals, especially concerning the inhibition of T(H)2 cytokines. METHODS: For this purpose, CD4(+)CD25(-) or CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells from donors allergic to grass or birch pollen (mainly with rhinitis) or from healthy nonatopic donors were stimulated in the presence of autologous, mature, monocyte-derived, allergen-pulsed dendritic cells, and the preactivated CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells were added to CD4(+)CD25(-) T cells during restimulation. RESULTS: CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells from the nonatopic donors and from the majority of the patients investigated proliferated poorly, produced fewer cytokines, and inhibited the proliferation and T(H)1 (IFN-gamma) and T(H)2 (IL-4 and IL-5) cytokine production of CD4(+)CD25(-) T cells but not IL-10 production. The suppression of CD4(+)CD25(-) T cells by CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells was at least partially antigen unspecific and not reversible with anti-IL-10, anti-transforming growth factor beta, or anti-cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 mAb but was reversible with IL-2. In some atopic patients preactivated CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells reproducibly showed strong proliferative responses, produced higher amounts of IL-4 and IL-10 than CD4(+)CD25(-) T cells, and suppressed only the IFN-gamma production of CD4(+)CD25(-) T cells. CONCLUSION: These data indicate that regulatory CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells are present and functional in most atopic patients with allergic rhinitis and are able to inhibit T(H)1, as well as T(H)2, cytokine production.     

Emodin inhibits the differentiation and maturation of dendritic cells and increases the production of regulatory T cells

The aim of this study was to characterize the effects of emodin on dendritic cells (DCs) and CD4?CD25? regulatory T cells (Tregs). Myeloid DCs were prepared from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of healthy human donors and treated with emodin at different concentrations. The phenotype and T cell stimulatory capacity of these DCs were analyzed. The expression ratios of CD80 and CD83 in DCs in the presence of emodin (100 μg/ml) were significantly decreased compared with that in DCs without emodin treatment (P<0.05). IL-12p70 production of DCs decreased significantly with emodin treatment (P<0.05). Furthermore, an approximately 2-fold decrease was observed in the ability of DCs pre-treated with emodin to induce T-lymphocyte proliferation. In addition, we found that emodin treatment increased the number of Tregs, which expressed lower levels of human leukocyte antigen (HLA-DR), glucocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factor receptor (GITR), and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) as compared to cells without emodin treatment. Our results suggest that emodin inhibits the differentiation and maturation of DCs and induces Tregs, which may be helpful for the modulation of the immune rejection after liver transplantation.     

复方中药对外周血树突状细胞的干预作用

目的:探讨复方中药在体外对外周血树突状细胞(DC)的干预作用。方法:采用体外培养细胞的方法培养DC,经复方中药作用后,流式细胞术分析细胞表型的变化,MTT法观察细胞刺激淋巴细胞增殖的变化及ELISA法观察分泌IL-12的影响。结果:复方中药可明显使DC的CD83和CD86表达增高,使对混合淋巴细胞的刺激作用增强,但是对IL-12的分泌起抑制作用。结论:复方中药可增强DC的抗原提呈能力,抑制细胞因子IL-12的产生。     

Increase of dendritic cells of type 2 (DC2) by altered response to IL-4 in atopic patients

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have shown that there are 2 dendritic cell subpopulations, DC1 and DC2, which induce T(H)1 and T(H)2 cell differentiation in vitro, respectively. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether there exists a deviation of DC1 and DC2 subsets and to investigate their functional abnormalities in T(H)2 cell-mediated atopic diseases. METHODS: We analyzed the frequencies of DC1 (CD11c(+)CD123(-)) and DC2 (CD11c(-)CD123(+)) cells in peripheral blood of atopic patients; we also studied the responses of DC2 cells from atopic patients to IL-3 and IL-4 for their survival. RESULTS: DC2 cells but not DC1 cells were significantly increased in peripheral blood of atopic patients in comparison with that of healthy subjects. DC2 cell numbers were positively correlated with serum IgE levels and blood eosinophil counts, the increase of which reflects T(H)2-type immune response in atopic diseases. IL-4 inhibited IL-3-induced survival of DC2 cells from healthy controls, but IL-4 failed to suppress the IL-3-induced survival of DC2 cells from atopic patients. Furthermore, IL-4 alone enhanced the survival of DC2 cells from atopic patients but not from healthy controls. However, no significant differences were found in the expression levels of activation/maturation markers on DC2 cells between atopic patients and healthy controls. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that DC2 cells are preferentially increased in atopic patients in correlation with the state of atopic allergy and that DC2 cells in atopic patients, unlike those in healthy subjects, exhibit altered responses to IL-4 for survival, suggesting that DC2 cells in atopic patients might contribute to the enhanced T(H)2 cell differentiation in atopic diseases.     

Characterization of monocyte-derived dendritic cells from patients with active and treated paracoccidioidomycosis

Cellular immune responses are a significant defence mechanism in human paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), an endemic mycosis in Latin America; however, little is known about the role of dendritic cells (DCs) in human PCM. We investigated monocyte-derived DCs from patients with treated (TP) and active PCM (AP) compared with healthy non-PCM donors (CO). DCs from the TP group showed higher expression of HLA-DR, CD86 and DC-SIGN compared with CO, whereas AP showed similar expression to CO. Production of IL-10 was downregulated by TNF-α in all groups and lower levels were observed in untreated DCs from AP compared with CO. Conversely, IL-12p40 was significantly upregulated in the DCs of the TP group. TNF-α-activated DCs from the CO group produced significantly lower levels of IL-12p40 when differentiated from magnetic-sorted monocytes (MACS) compared with adhered monocyte-derived DCs. This comparison in the TP group revealed similar levels of IL-12p40, suggesting a T cell-independent increase in the production of IL-12p40. Higher expression of surface molecules with increased IL-12p40 may indicate a better activation of DCs after the treatment of PCM. Our findings suggest that DCs may be crucial in the protective response to Paracoccidioides brasiliensis and that in vitro-generated DCs might be useful in enhancing antifungal immunity, especially during active PCM.     

A protocol for generation of clinical grade mRNA-transfected monocyte-derived dendritic cells for cancer vaccines

With the aim of producing large quantities of mRNA-transfected monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DCs) to be used as cancer vaccines, a new clinical grade procedure has been developed. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) obtained by leukapheresis were enriched for monocytes by immunomagnetic depletion of CD19+ B cells and CD2+ T cells employing the ISOLEX 300i device. After 5 days of culture of enriched monocytes in gas permeable Teflon bags, using serum-free medium supplemented with granulocyte/macrophage-colony stimulating factor and interleukin-4 (IL-4), immature DCs were generated. Following transfection with mRNA from three human prostate cancer cell lines (DU145, LNCaP and PC-3), employing a newly developed square wave electroporation procedure, the immature DCs were immediately transferred to Teflon bags and matured for 48 h, using serum-free medium supplemented with IL-1alpha, IL-6, tumour necrosis factor-alpha and PGE2. The electroporation procedure efficiently transferred mRNA into the DCs with minor effect on the viability of the cells. The generated matured transfected DCs show high expression of the antigens CD83, CD80, CD86 and human leucocyte antigen-DR. Freezing and thawing of the transfected matured DCs had minor effect on cell viability and the phenotype. From 4 x 109 PBMCs, about 1 x 108 transfected matured DCs are produced. The thawed transfected DCs were able to elicit primary T-cell responses in vitro against antigens encoded by the prostate cancer mRNA as shown by enzyme-linked immunospot assay using mock-transfected DCs as control. Based on these results, clinical trials in cancer patients have been initiated.     

Triptolide inhibits IL-12 production and T cell-stimulatory capacity of dendritic cells

Extracts of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F.(TWHF ) are effective in traditional Chinesemedicine for treatment of autoimmune diseasessuch as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus ery thematosus, nephritis and asthma [1, 2]. Trip tolide, a diterpenoid triepoxide, is derived fromTWHF and is responsible for most of the immuno suppressive and anti inflammatory effects ofTWHF. Triptolide has been shown to be effectivein the treatment of autoimmune diseases, …     

Generation of functionally mature dendritic cells from elutriated monocytes using polyinosinic : polycytidylic acid and soluble CD40 ligand for clinical application

Despite the increasing use of dendritic cell (DC) vaccination in clinical trials, optimal conditions for the generation of functionally mature DCs remain to be established. The current standard DC maturation protocol for clinical trials has been used as an inflammatory cytokine cocktail [tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6 and prostaglandin E(2)], but this cocktail induced insufficient maturation of DCs derived from elutriated monocytes when cultured in X-VIVO 15. The aim of this study was to define effective combinations of stimulators for generating functionally mature DCs from elutriated monocytes under current good manufacturing practice conditions. We compared the functional capacity of DCs in response to all possible pairwise combinations of four different classes of stimuli: TNF-alpha, peptidoglycan, polyinosinic : polycytidylic acid [poly(I:C)] and soluble CD40 ligand (CD40L). Maturation status of DCs stimulated with combination of four stimuli was similar to that of the cytokine cocktail as assessed by the cell surface phenotype. However, only the combination of poly(I:C) + CD40L induced complete functional activation of the whole DC population, assessing IL-12p70 production, allostimulatory activity, migratory response to CCL19 and T helper 1-polarizing capacity. Thus, the protocol based on the combination of poly(I:C) and CD40L is more effective for the induction of clinical-grade DCs from elutriated monocytes than the standard cytokine cocktail.