Anatomic location and T-cell stimulatory functions of mouse dendritic cell subsets defined by CD4 and CD8 expression

Mouse spleen contains CD4+, CD8alpha+, and CD4-/CD8alpha- dendritic cells (DCs) in a 2:1:1 ratio. An analysis of 70 surface and cytoplasmic antigens revealed several differences in antigen expression between the 3 subsets. Notably, the Birbeck granule-associated Langerin antigen, as well as CD103 (the mouse homologue of the rat DC marker OX62), were specifically expressed by the CD8alpha+ DC subset. All DC types were apparent in the T-cell areas as well as in the splenic marginal zones and showed similar migratory capacity in collagen lattices. The 3 DC subtypes stimulated allogeneic CD4+ T cells comparably. However, CD8alpha+ DCs were very weak stimulators of resting or activated allogeneic CD8+ T cells, even at high stimulator-to-responder ratios, although this defect could be overcome under optimal DC/T cell ratios and peptide concentrations using CD8+ F5 T-cell receptor (TCR)-transgenic T cells. CD8alpha- or CD8alpha+ DCs presented alloantigens with the same efficiency for lysis by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), and their turnover rate of class I-peptide complexes was similar, thus neither an inability to present, nor rapid loss of antigenic complexes from CD8alpha DCs was responsible for the low allostimulatory capacity of CD8alpha+ DCs in vitro. Surprisingly, both CD8alpha+ DCs and CD4-/CD8- DCs efficiently primed minor histocompatibility (H-Y male antigen) cytotoxicity following intravenous injection, whereas CD4+ DCs were weak inducers of CTLs. Thus, the inability of CD8alpha+ DCs to stimulate CD8+ T cells is limited to certain in vitro assays that must lack certain enhancing signals present during in vivo interaction between CD8alpha+ DCs and CD8+ T cells.     

Prolongation of liver allograft survival by dendritic cells modified with NF-κB decoy oligodeoxynucleotides

AIM: To induce the tolerance of rat liver allograft by dendritic cells (DCs) modified with NF-κB decoy oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs).METHODS: Bone marrow (BM)-derived DCs from SD rats were propagated in the presence of GM-CSF or GM-CSF+IL-4 to obtain immature DCs or mature DCs. GM-CSF+IL-4-propagated DCs were treated with double-strand NF-κB decoy ODNs containing two NF-κB binding sites or scrambled ODNs to ascertain whether NF-κB decoy ODNs might prevent DC maturation. GM-CSF-propagated DCs, GM-CSF+NF-κB decoy ODNs or scrambled ODNs-propagated DCs were treated with LPS for 18 h to determine whether NF-κB decoy ODNs could prevent LPS-induced IL-12 production in DCs. NF-κB binding activities, costimulatory molecule (CD40, CD80, CD86) surface expression, IL-12 protein expression and allostimulatory capacity of DCs were measured with electrophoretic mobility shift assay (ENSA),flow cytometry, Western blotting, and mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR), respectively. GM-CSF-propagated DCs, GM-CSF+IL-4 -propagated DCs, and GM-CSF+NF-κB decoy ODNs or scrambled ODNs-propagated DCs were injected intravenously into recipient LEW rats 7 d prior to liver transplantation and immediately after liver transplantation.Histological grading of liver graft rejection was determined 7 d after liver transplantation. Expression of IL-2, IL-4 and IFN-γ, mRNA in liver graft and in recipient spleen was analyzed by semiquantitative RT-PCR. Apoptosis of liver allograft-infiltrating cells was measured with TUNEL staining.RESULTS: GM-CSF-propagated DCs, GM-CSF+NF-κB decoy ODNs-propagated DCs and GM-CSF+ scrambled ODNs-propagated DCs exhibited features of immature DCs, with similar low level of costimulatory molecule(CD40, CD80,CD86) surface expression, absence of NF-κB activation,and few allocostimulatory activities. GM-CSF+IL-4-propagated DCs displayed features of mature DCs, with high levels of costimulatory molecule (CD40, CD80, CD86) surface expression, marked NF-κB activation, and significant allocostimulatory activity. NF-κB decoy ODNs completely abrogated IL-4-induced DC maturation and allocostimulatory activity as well as LPS-induced NF-κB activation and IL-12 protein expression in DCs. GM-CSF+NF-κB decoy ODNs-propagated DCs promoted apoptosis of liver allograft-infiltrating cells within portal areas, and significantly decreased the expression of IL-2 and IFN-γ mRNA but markedly elevated IL-4 mRNA expression both in liverallograft and in recipient spleen, and consequently suppressed liver allograft rejection, and promoted liverallograft survival.CONCLUSION: NF-κB decoy ODNs-rnodified DCs canprolong liver allograft survival by promoting apoptosis of graft-infiltrating cells within portal areas as well as down-regulating IL-2 and IFN-γ mRNA and up-regulating IL-4 rnRNA expression both in liver graft and in recipient spleen.     

Prolongation of liver allograft survival by dendritic cells modified with NF-κB decoy oligodeoxynucleotides

AIM: To induce the tolerance of rat liver allograft by dendritic cells (DCs) modified with NF-κB decoy oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs).METHODS: Bone marrow (BM)-derived DCs from SD rats were propagated in the presence of GM-CSF or GM-CSF+IL-4to obtain immature DCs or mature DCs. GM-CSF+IL-4-propagated DCs were treated with double-strand NF-κB decoy ODNs containing two NF-κB binding sites or scrambled ODNs to ascertain whether NF-κB decoy ODNs might prevent DC maturation. GM-CSF-propagated DCs, GMCSF+NF-κB decoy ODNs or scrambled ODNs-propagated DCs were treated with LPS for 18 h to determine whether NF-κB decoy ODNs could prevent LPS-induced IL-12production in DCs. NF-κB binding activities, costimulatory molecule (CD40, CD80, CD86) surface expression, IL-12protein expression and allostimulatory capacity of DCs were measured with electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA),flow cytometry, Western blotting, and mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR), respectively. GM-CSF-propagated DCs, GMCSF+IL-4 -propagated DCs, and GM-CSF+NF-κB decoy ODNs or scrambled ODNs-propagated DCs were injected intravenously into recipient LEW rats 7 d prior to liver transplantation and immediately after liver transplantation.Histological grading of liver graft rejection was determined 7 d after liver transplantation. Expression of IL-2, IL-4 and IFN-γ mRNA in liver graft and in recipient spleen was analyzed by semiquantitative RT-PCR. Apoptosis of liver allograft-infiltrating cells was measured with TUNEL staining.RESULTS: GM-CSF-propagated DCs, GM-CSF+NF-κB decoy ODNs-propagated DCs and GM-CSF+ scrambled ODNspropagated DCs exhibited features of immature DCs, with similar low level of costimulatory molecule(CD40, CD80,CD86) surface expression, absence of NF-κB activation,and few allocostimulatory activities. GM-CSF+IL-4-propagated DCs displayed features of mature DCs, with high levels of costimulatory molecule (CD40, CD80, CD86) surface expression, marked NF-κB activation, and significant allocostimulatory activity. NF-κB decoy ODNs completely abrogated IL-4-induced DC maturation and allocostimulatory activity as well as LPS-induced NF-κB activation and IL-12protein expression in DCs. GM-CSF+NF-κB decoy ODNspropagated DCs promoted apoptosis of liver allograftinfiltrating cells within portal areas, and significantly decreased the expression of IL-2 and IFN-γ mRNA but markedly elevated IL-4 mRNA expression both in liver allograft and in recipient spleen, and consequently suppressed liver allograft rejection, and promoted liver allograft survival.CONCLUSION: NF-κB decoy ODNs-modified DCs can prolong liver allograft survival by promoting apoptosis of graft-infiltrating cells within portal areas as well as downregulating IL-2 and IFN-γ mRNA and up-regulating IL-4 mRNA expression both in liver graft and in recipient spleen.     

Effect of Cytomegalovirus Recombinant Phosphoprotein 150 (pp150) on Function and Maturation of Murine Dendritic Cells: an In-Vitro Study

Background: Tegument protein pp150 of cytomegaloviruses (CMVs) plays a vital role in all stages of viral life cycle, representing the most important tegument protein candidate for HCMV treatment. However, the exact role of pp150 in immune regulation is yet to be elucidated. Objective: To examine the effects of pp150 on the maturity and function of murine dendritic cells (DCs). Methods: Maturity status (CD40, CD86, and MHC-II expression) and phagocytic capacity of DCs (dextran uptake assay) were characterized. Gene expression profiles of ROR-γ, GATA-3, T-bet, and FOXP-3 as well as the protein expression of INF-γ (Th1), IL-4 (Th2), IL-35 (Treg), IL-17A (Th17), IL-22, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-2 were evaluated in T cells co-cultured with DCs. Results: A significant increase in CD40, CD86, and CCR7 expression and a reduction in the phagocytosis rate were observed in pp150-stimulated DCs compared with unstimulated DCs. T cells co-cultured with stimulated DCs showed higher expressions of ROR-γ, IL-6, IL-2, IL-17A, IL-22, and TNF-α. Conclusion: Despite improvements in maturity status, pp150-stimulated DCs does not seem to be able to induce Th1 or Th2 immunity. In fact, Th17 and its mediators, IL-17A and IL-22, might be the main inflammatory factors involved in pp150-stimulated DC's action mechanism. However, it is necessary to conduct further investigations to corroborate these observations.     

Adenosine affects expression of membrane molecules,cytokine and chemokine release,and the T-cell stimulatory capacity of human dendritic cells

Dendritic cells (DCs) express functional purinergic type 1 receptors, but the effects of adenosine in these antigen-presenting cells have been only marginally investigated. Here, we further characterized the biologic activity of adenosine in immature DCs (iDCs) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-matured DCs (mDCs). Chronic stimulation with adenosine enhanced the macropinocytotic activity and the membrane expression of CD80, CD86, major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I, and HLA-DR molecules on iDCs. Adenosine also increased LPS-induced CD54, CD80, MHC class I, and HLA-DR molecule expression in mDCs. In addition, adenosine dose-dependently inhibited tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-12 (IL-12) release, whereas it enhanced the secretion of IL-10 from mDCs. The use of selective receptor agonists revealed that the modulation of the cytokine and cell-surface marker profile was due to activation of A(2) adenosine receptor. Functionally, adenosine reduced the allostimulatory capacity of iDCs, but not of mDCs. More important, DCs matured in the presence of adenosine had a reduced capacity to induce T helper 1 (Th1) polarization of naive CD4(+) T lymphocytes. Finally, adenosine augmented the release of the chemokine CCL17 and inhibited CXCL10 production by mDCs. In aggregate, the results provide initial evidence that adenosine diminishes the capacity of DCs to initiate and amplify Th1 immune responses.     

Dendritic cells from the elderly display an intrinsic defect in the production of IL-10 in response to Lithium Chloride

Chronic, low grade inflammation is a characteristic of old age. Innate immune system cells such as dendritic cells (DCs) from the elderly display a pro-inflammatory phenotype associated with increased reactivity to self. Lithium is a well-established anti-inflammatory agent used in the treatment of bipolar disorders. It has also been reported to reduce inflammation in DCs. Here, we investigated whether Lithium is effective in reducing the inflammatory responses in DCs from the elderly. The effect of Lithium Chloride (LiCl) was compared on the response of TLR4 agonist, LPS and TLR2 agonist, PAM3CSK4 stimulated aged and young DCs. LiCl enhanced the production of IL-10 in LPS stimulated young DCs. However, it did not affect TNF-α and IL-6 production. In contrast, in aged DCs, LiCl reduced the secretion of TNF-α and IL-6 in LPS stimulated DCs but did not increase IL-10. LiCl had no significant effect on PAM3CSK4 responses in aged and young DCs. LiCl treated DCs also displayed differences at the level of CD4 T cell priming and polarization. LPS-stimulated young DCs reduced IFN-γ secretion and biased the Th cell response towards Th2/Treg while LiCl treated aged DCs only reduced IFN-γ secretion but did not bias the response towards Th2/Treg. In summary, our data suggests that LiCl reduces inflammation in aged and young DCs via different mechanisms. Furthermore, the effect of LiCl is different on LPS and PAM3CSK4 responses.     

Lentiviral gp34/OX40L Gene Transfer into Dendritic Cells Facilitates Alloreactive CD4<Superscript>+</Superscript> T-Cell Response In Vitro

Gene-modified dendritic cells (DCs) are promising targets for cancer immunotherapy. In this study, we demonstrated that lentiviral transduction of DCs with the gp34/OX40L gene, one of the costimulatory molecules, facilitates alloreactive CD4+ T-cell response in vitro. We achieved a 20% to 40% efficiency of gp34/OX40L gene transfer into DCs by the lentiviral vector, and lentiviral gp34/OX40L gene transfer did not alter the surface phenotype of either immature or mature DCs, suggesting that expression of gp34/OX40L did not induce the maturation of immature DCs and that gp34/OX40L-transduced DCs could fully differentiate into mature DCs. gp34/OX40L gene transfer facilitated an allogeneic CD4+ T-cell response in vitro by mature DCs but not by immature DCs. Dose escalation of the transgene induced an increasing amount of gp34/OX40L expression, leading to an increasing level of up-regulation of the allogeneic CD4+ T-cell response. The addition of anti-gp34 monoclonal antibody totally abrogated this up-regulation. These results suggest that this facilitation of allogeneic CD4+ T-cell response is specifically dependent on gp34/OX40L expressed on transduced DCs. Taken together, our findings show that gp34/ OX40L plays an important role in allogeneic CD4+ T-cell activation by DCs and that lentiviral gp34/OX40L gene transfer into DCs may be a useful strategy for cancer immunotherapy.     

rSj16, a recombinant protein of Schistosoma japonicum-derived molecule, reduces severity of the complete Freund's adjuvant-induced adjuvant arthritis in rats' model

Sj16, a 16-kDa protein produced by Schistosoma japonicum, has been demonstrated to have anti-inflammatory effect. However, the possible mechanism of these phenomena has not been discovered. Here, we tried to touch it with arthritis rats' model induced by injection of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA). A set of pathogenic characters were observed in CFA-treated rat, including local and systematic read-out, which showed the model successfully set up. After administration of rSj16 (recombinant Sj16) in vivo, paw swelling reduced significantly and in a dose-dependent manner, the level of TNF-α, IL-1β and NO decreased and IL-10 in the serum increased. In vitro, rSj16 reversed the augmented surface expression of CD80, CD86, CD54 and OX6 induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in bone marrow-derived DCs (BMDCs), whereas endocytotic capacity of rSj16-treated dendritic cell (DC) was profoundly increased. IL-12p70 released from rSj16-treated BMDC was decreased but IL-10 increased. Further, following incubation with rSj16 primed BMDCs, the sensitized T cells exhibited increased production of anti-inflammatory IL-10 and IL-4 and decreased production of IL-12p70 and IFN-γ. Collectively, these results implied that rSj16 alleviated CFA-induced arthritis, and the possible mechanisms may be its interruption of maturation and function of DCs. rSj16 could be a potential therapeutic agent against rheumatoid arthritis.     

Immediate Exposure to TNF-α Activates Dendritic Cells Derived from Non-Purified Cord Blood Mononuclear Cells

Background: Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) is a primary mediator of immune regulation and might be required in the early stages of DC development from CD34+ cells. However, details of optimal timing of exposure to TNF-α in DC development process in monocytes or non-purified hematopoitic cells are still lacking and clear benefits of this approach to the development of DCs remain to be validated. Objective: To evaluate the effect of early and late exposure to TNF-α on DC devel-opment from non-purified cord blood mononuclear cells. Methods: To define the ef-fects of early exposure to TNF-α on cord blood mononuclear cells, we cultured UCB-MNC in the presence of SCF, Flt3L, GM-CSF and IL-4 for 14 days and matured them for an extra 4 days. TNF-α was added on day 0, 7 and 14 in TNF-α + group, and only on day 14 in TNF-α - group where it was used only as a maturation factor. Results: Immediate exposure to TNF-α was shown to: (1) enhance the survival of cells in the first week of culture; (2) produce mature DCs with higher maturation markers (CD80, CD83, CD86 and HLA-DR); and (3) increase secretion of IL-12 by mature DCs. In contrast, delayed exposure to TNF-α stimulate mature DCs with less purity producing a high level of IL-10 and a low level of IL-12. Conclusion: We developed a simple, easy and cost effective method to generate DCs from non-fractionating mononuclear cells in this study. Also we confirm the presence of a large number of functional DCs under inflammatory conditions, where local concentrations of TNF-α were high.     

Increased dendritic cell number and function following continuous in vivo infusion of granulocyte macrophage-colony-stimulating factor and interleukin-4

Dendritic cells (DCs) are rare antigen-presenting cells that play a central role in stimulating immune responses. The combination of recombinant granulocyte macrophage-colony-stimulating factor (rGM-CSF) and recombinant interleukin-4 (rIL-4) provides an important stimulus for generating DCs from murine bone marrow precursors in vitro. Using miniature osmotic pumps, we now demonstrate that continuous infusion of these cytokines for 7 days had a similar effect in vivo, increasing the number and function of splenic DCs. Administration of rGM-CSF/rIL-4 (10 microg/d each) increased the concentration of CD11(+) DCs by 2.7-fold and the absolute number of splenic DCs by an average of 5.7-fold. DC number also increased in peripheral blood and lymph nodes. The resultant DCs exhibited a different phenotype and function than those in control mice or mice treated with rGM-CSF alone. rGM-CSF/IL-4 increased both the myeloid (CD11c(+)/CD11b(+)) and the lymphoid (CD11c(+)/CD8alpha(+)) subpopulations, whereas rGM-CSF increased only myeloid DCs. DCs were highly concentrated in the T-cell areas of white pulp after rGM-CSF/IL-4 administration, whereas they were diffusely distributed throughout white pulp, marginal zones, and red pulp in mice treated with rGM-CSF alone. rGM-CSF/rIL-4 also significantly increased the expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and MHC class II on CD11c(+) cells and increased their capacity to take up antigens by macropinocytosis and receptor-mediated endocytosis. Splenic DCs generated in response to rGM-CSF/rIL-4 were functionally immature in terms of allostimulatory activity, but this activity increased after short-term in vitro culture. Systemic treatment with rGM-CSF/rIL-4 enhanced the response to an adenoviral-based vaccine and led to antigen-specific retardation in the growth of established tumor. We conclude that systemic therapy with the combination of rGM-CSF/rIL-4 provides a new approach for generating DCs in vivo.     

Prostaglandin E2-dependent IL-23 production in aged murine dendritic cells

CD4+ T cells of the Th17 subtype are over-represented in the aged immune system. Dendritic cells (DC) play a critical role in naïve CD4+ T cell differentiation. However, expression of cytokines by aged DC that promote differentiation or survival of Th17 cells has not been extensively investigated. Using bone marrow-derived DC from C57BL/6 mice of different ages we compared cytokine production after DC activation by Toll-like receptor agonists for TLR4 and/or TLR7/8. DC-derived TNF-α and IL-12p70 production and expression of DC co-stimulatory molecules did not vary significantly by age indicating that TLR expression, function and signal transduction were intact in aged DC. There were relatively minor age-related changes in TGF-β and IL-6 which promote Th17 differentiation, but IL-23, a Th17-suvival cytokine, increased more than 40-fold across the lifespan. DC-derived prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) also increased with age and the up-regulation of IL-23 expression by aged DC was blocked by indomethacin that prevents PGE2 production, and by antagonists of PGE2 receptors. Exogenous PGE2 added to DC cultures further enhanced IL-23 production from aged but not young DCs. These data indicate that age-related changes in DC PGE2 production are necessary, but not sufficient to induce DC IL-23 production. Such changes may play a role in the expansion of Th17 cells in the aged immune system.     

Enhancing the immunostimulatory function of dendritic cells by transfection with mRNA encoding OX40 ligand

The objective of this study was to investigate whether the immunostimulatory properties of human monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DCs) could be enhanced by triggering OX40/OX40L signaling. Since monocyte-derived DCs possess only low-cell surface levels of OX40L in the absence of CD40 signaling, OX40L was expressed by transfection of DCs with the corresponding mRNA. We show that OX40L mRNA transfection effectively enhanced the immunostimulatory function of DCs at multiple levels: OX40L mRNA transfection augmented allogeneic and HLA class II epitope-specific CD4+ T-cell responses, improved the stimulation of antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) in vitro without interfering with the prostaglandin E2 (PGE2)-mediated migratory function of the DCs, and facilitated interleukin 12 p70 (IL-12p70)-independent T helper type 1 (Th1) polarization of naive CD4+ T-helper cells. Furthermore, vaccination of tumor-bearing mice using OX40L mRNA-cotransfected DCs resulted in significant enhancement of therapeutic antitumor immunity due to in vivo priming of Th1-type T-cell responses. Our data suggest that transfection of DCs with OX40L mRNA may represent a promising strategy that could be applied in clinical immunotherapy protocols, while circumventing the current unavailability of reagents facilitating OX40 ligation.     

TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis in human naïve and memory CD8+ T cells in aged humans

Recently, human CD8+ T cells have been divided into naïve, central memory (T_CM), and two types of effector memory cells (T_EM and T_EMRA), which are phenotypically identified by a set of cell surface molecules. In this investigation, we have compared the relative sensitivity of these subsets to TNF-α-induced apoptosis in young and aged humans. Our data show increased sensitivity of naïve and T_CM CD8+ T cells from aged humans to TNF-α-induced apoptosis as compared to young subjects. Both T_EM and T_EMRA CD8+ T cells from young and aged subjects were relatively resistant to TNF-α-induced apoptosis and no significant difference was observed between young and aged subjects. Increased apoptosis of naïve and T_CM CD8+ T cells in aged humans was associated with increased activation of caspase-8 and caspase-3 as compared to young subjects. There was no difference in the expression of TNFR-I or TNFR-II on any of the four subpopulations of CD8+ T cells between young and aged subjects. These data suggest that increased TNF-α-induced apoptosis of naïve and T_CM CD8+ T cells may play a role in the deficiency of naïve and T_CM CD8+ T cells in human aging. However, apoptosis does not appear to play a major role in increased accumulation of effector memory CD8+ T cells during human aging.     

Pituitary epithelial cell implants reverse the accumulation of CD4-CD8- lymphocytes in thymus glands of aged rats.

Although implantation of GH3 pituitary epithelial cells has been shown to reverse thymic aging in rats, the differentiation pattern of T-lymphocytes within the reconstituted thymus glands has not been investigated. Syngeneic GH3 cells were implanted into 22-month-old female (old) Wistar-Furth rats. Eight weeks later, thymus glands and thymocyte subpopulations were compared to those in aged (24-month-old) and young (3-month-old) female Wistar Furth rats. We confirmed that implantation of GH3 cells increased (P less than 0.05) not only thymus size but also the number of thymocytes isolated from aged rats. Flow cytometric analysis using dual color direct immunofluorescence with fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled anti-CD4 (W3/25) and phycoerythrin-labeled anti-CD8 (OX 8) monoclonal antibodies revealed that thymus glands from young rats had approximately 20% CD4-CD8- and 30% CD4+CD8+ cells. Thymus glands from old rats contained greater than 50% more CD4-CD8- cells and a reduced percentage of CD4+CD8+ lymphocytes compared to those of young rats (P less than 0.05). Moreover, both of these age-associated changes were reversed (P less than 0.05) by implanting GH3 cells. GH3-treated aged rats also had a significantly (P less than 0.05) greater proportion of CD4+CD8- thymocytes compared to aged control rats. There were no differences among the three groups of rats in the percentage of CD4-CD8+ thymocytes or in the percentage or intensity of cells expressing the T-cell markers CD3, T-cell receptor, or OX19. These results show that in aged rats, intrathymic maturation is inhibited at the key transitional stage where double negative cells differentiate into double positive cells, which may limit the diversity of the T-cell repertoire. The data also extend earlier results by demonstrating that GH3 epithelial cells promote not only growth, but also the differentiation of T-lymphocytes in the aging rat thymus.     

Comparison of Several Maturation Inducing Factors in Dendritic Cell Differentiation

Background: Dendritic cells (DCs) are professional antigen presenting cells that have an important role in the initiation of immune response. The use of maturation factors in dendritic cell differentiation provides a promising approach in immunotherapy. Objective: In this study, we compared tumor necrosis factor-α, polyribocytidylic acid, lipopolysacharide and CpG oligonucleotides in inducing dendritic cell maturation. Methods: We generated immature dendritic cells with GM-CSF in combination with IL-4 from peripheral blood mononuclear adherent cells and used tumor necrosis factor-α, polyribocytidylic acid, lipopolysacharide and CpG for the induction of dendritic cell maturation. CD83 maturation marker on the dendritic cells was analyzed by flowcytometry after 7 days. In addition, mixed leukocyte reaction between dendritic cells and T cells was performed by MTT proliferation assay. Results: Flow cytometry results demonstrated a comparable high level of CD83 expression on the mature dendritic cells generated by TNF-α, CpG, Poly I:C, and LPS treatment of the immature dendritic cells. However, a significantly poorer proliferation of lymphocytes cocultured with the Poly I:C-treated DCs was observed compared to the CpG-treated DCs in mixed leukocyte reaction (p=0.026). Conversely, a significantly stronger proliferation of lymphocytes was observed when cocultured with TNF-α-treated DCs compared to the LPS-treated DCs (p=0.025). Conclusion: Our results indicated that all of studied maturation inducing factors can be used in DC maturation but TNF-α and CpG were the preferred in vitro maturation factors. It is concluded that maturation of dendritic cells by CpG motif and TNF-α can be used to regulate immune responses.     

Chronic ethanol consumption impairs cellular immune responses against HCV NS5 protein due to dendritic cell dysfunction

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Alcoholic patients with and without chronic liver disease have a high incidence of infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV). Long-term ethanol consumption in mice has been associated with a strikingly reduced CD8(+) cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) response to HCV nonstructural proteins following DNA-based immunization. This study evaluated the effect of ethanol on dendritic cells (DCs) as a mechanism(s) for reduced CTL activity. METHODS: Mice were fed an ethanol-containing or isocaloric pair-fed control diet for 8 weeks, followed by DC isolation from the spleen. DCs were evaluated with respect to endocytosis properties, cell surface markers, allostimulatory activity, and cytokine production following stimulation. Immune responses to HCV NS5 protein were generated by genetic immunization. Syngeneic transfer was used to determine if DC dysfunction contributed to abnormal cellular immune responses. RESULTS: Long-term ethanol exposure resulted in a reduced number of splenic DCs but did not alter endocytosis capacity. There was an increase in the myeloid and a reduction in the lymphoid DC population. Ethanol reduced expression of CD40 and CD86 costimulatory molecules on resting DCs, which was corrected following stimulation with lipopolysaccharide or poly I:C. There was impaired allostimulatory activity. Cytokine profiles of DCs isolated from ethanol-fed mice were characterized by enhanced interleukin (IL)-1beta and IL-10 and decreased tumor necrosis factor alpha, IL-12, interferon gamma, and IL-6 secretion. Impaired CTL responses to NS5 were corrected by syngeneic transfer of control DCs. CONCLUSIONS: Altered DC function is one of the major changes induced by long-term ethanol consumption, which subsequently impairs the cellular immune response necessary for viral clearance.     

Identification of both myeloid CD11c+ and lymphoid CD11c− dendritic cell subsets in cord blood

Dendritic cells (DCs) are the most potent antigen-presenting cells described to date. In human peripheral blood, both myeloid and lymphoid subsets of DCs have been identified. In contrast, cord blood (CB) DCs have recently been described as being exclusively of the immature CD11c- lymphoid DC subset. Using an alternative method of enrichment, based on a negative selection system, both lymphoid (HLA-DR+ CD123+++ CD11c- CD33-) and myeloid (HLA-DR++ CD123+ CD11c+ CD33+) DCs were identified in CB. Although the majority of CB DCs showed a lymphoid phenotype, a significant number of CD11c+ myeloid DCs (25.6% +/- 14.5%, n = 13) were also present. Other markers, such as CD80 and CD83, were negative in both subsets. Analyses of the allostimulatory capacity of both subsets showed that freshly isolated CB lymphoid DCs failed to induce a potent allostimulation of naive CB T cells. These features are therefore consistent with previous work reporting an immature phenotype for lymphoid DCs in adult blood. The significance of the inverted CD11c+/CD11c- ratio observed in CB DCs (1:3) with respect to adult blood DCs (3:1) remains to be explained.     

Morphology and ontogeny of dendritic cells in rats at different development periods

AIM: To study the morphology and ontogeny of dendritic cells of Peyer's patches in rats at different development periods.METHODS: The morphometric and flow cytometric analyses were performed to detect all the parameters of villous-crypts axis and the number of OX62+DC,OX62+CD4+SIRP+DC, and OX62+CD4-SIRP-DC in the small intestine in different groups of rats. The relationship between the parameters of villous-axis and the number of DC and DC subtype were analyzed.RESULTS: All morphometric parameters changed significantly with the development of pups in the different age groups ( F = 10.751, 12.374, 16.527,5.291, 3.486; P = 0.000, 0.000, 0.000, 0.001, 0.015).Villous height levels were unstable and increased from 115.24 μm to 140.43 μm as early as 3 wk postpartum.Villous area increased significantly between 5 and 7 wk postpartum, peeked up to 13 817.60 μm2 at 7 wk postpartum. Villous height and crypt depth ratios were relatively stable and increased significantly from 5.536, P = 0.0013). OX62+CD4+SIRP+DC subset levels detected in single-cell suspensions of rat total Peyer's patch dendritic cells (PP-DCs) increased significantly 2.07% 9-11 wk postpartum ( F = 7.216, P = 0.005).CONCLUSION: This study confirms the agerelated changes in villous-crypt axis differentiation in the small intestine. Simultaneously, there are also development and maturation in rat PP-DCs phenotypic expression. Furthermore, the morphological changes of intestinal mucosa and the development of immune cells (especially DC) peaked at 9-11 wk postpartum,indicating that the intestinal mucosae reached a relatively mature state at 11 wk postpartum.     

Endothelial stroma programs hematopoietic stem cells to differentiate into regulatory dendritic cells through IL-10

Regulatory dendritic cells (DCs) have been reported recently, but their origin is poorly understood. Our previous study demonstrated that splenic stroma can drive mature DCs to proliferate and differentiate into regulatory DCs, and their natural counterpart with similar regulatory function in normal spleens has been identified. Considering that the spleen microenvironment supports hematopoiesis and that hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are found in spleens of adult mice, we wondered whether splenic microenvironment could differentiate HSCs into regulatory DCs. In this report, we demonstrate that endothelial splenic stroma induce HSCs to differentiate into a distinct regulatory DC subset with high expression of CD11b but low expression of Ia. CD11b(hi)Ia(lo) DCs secreting high levels of TGF-beta, IL-10, and NO can suppress T-cell proliferation both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, CD11b(hi)Ia(lo) DCs have the ability to potently suppress allo-DTH in vivo, indicating their preventive or therapeutic perspectives for some immunologic disorders. The inhibitory function of CD11b(hi)Ia(lo) DCs is mediated through NO but not through induction of regulatory T (Treg) cells or T-cell anergy. IL-10, which is secreted by endothelial splenic stroma, plays a critical role in the differentiation of the regulatory CD11b(hi)Ia(lo) DCs from HSCs. These results suggest that splenic microenvironment may physiologically induce regulatory DC differentiation in situ.