Abstract
Current literature suggests that T cells recognizing antigen on mature dendritic cells (DC) differentiate into effector T cells whereas tolerance is induced when antigen is presented by immature DC. We investigated the consequences of the interactions between immature or lipopolysaccharide-matured DC and CD4(pos) T lymphocytes in absence of foreign antigen. While immature DC did not induce significant CD4(pos) T cell activation, we observed that a significant fraction of CD4(pos) T cells cultured with mature autologous DC displayed phenotypic features of activation and produced IL-2, IFN-gamma, IL-10 and TGF-beta. Furthermore, CD4(pos) T lymphocytes primed by mature, but not immature, autologous DC acquired regulatory properties. Indeed, when added to an allogeneic mixed leukocyte reaction, they suppressed the response of alloreactive T lymphocytes to the priming DC while responses to third-party stimulators were spared. The generation of CD4(pos) T cells with regulatory function by autologous stimulation did not require the presence of natural CD4(pos)CD25(pos) regulatory T cells. In addition, the acquisition of regulatory function by CD4(pos)CD25(neg) T cells stimulated by autologous mature DC was accompanied by the induction of FOXP3 expression. Our data suggest that during inflammatory conditions, presentation of self antigens by mature DC to autologous T lymphocytes could contribute to the generation of regulatory mechanisms.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 762-72 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | European journal of immunology |
Volume | 34 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Mar 2004 |
Keywords
- Antigen Presentation
- CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes
- Coculture Techniques
- Cytokines
- DNA-Binding Proteins
- Dendritic Cells
- Forkhead Transcription Factors
- Growth Substances
- Histocompatibility Antigens Class II
- Humans
- Immune Tolerance
- Lipopolysaccharides
- Lymphocyte Activation
- Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed
- Phenotype
- RNA, Messenger
- Receptors, Interleukin-2
- T-Lymphocyte Subsets