Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) play essential roles in directing immune responses. These cells may be particularly important in determining the nature of immune responses to viral infections in patients with allergic asthma as well those with other atopic diseases. The purposes of this study were 1) to compare the functional capacity of pDCs in patients with one type of allergic disorder, allergic asthma, and controls; 2) to determine whether IgE cross-linking affects antiviral responses of influenza-exposed pDCs; and 3) to determine whether evidence of counterregulation of FcεRIα and IFN-α pathways exists in these cells. pDC function was assessed in a subset of asthma patients and in controls by measuring IFN-α production after exposure of purified pDCs to influenza viruses. FcεRIα expression on pDCs was determined by flow cytometry in blood samples from patients with allergic asthma and controls. pDCs from patients with asthma secreted significantly less IFN-α upon exposure to influenza A (572 versus 2815; p = 0.03), and secretion was inversely correlated with serum IgE levels. Moreover, IgE cross-linking prior to viral challenge resulted in 1) abrogation of the influenza-induced pDC IFN-α response; 2) diminished influenza and gardiquimod-induced TLR-7 upregulation in pDCs; and 3) interruption of influenza-induced upregulation of pDC maturation/costimulatory molecules. In addition, exposure to influenza and gardiquimod resulted in upregulation of TLR-7, with concomitant downregulation of FcεRIα expression in pDCs. These data suggest that counterregulation of FcεRI and TLR-7 pathways exists in pDCs, and that IgE cross-linking impairs pDC antiviral responses.
IntroductionT-cell activation is dependent on signals delivered by antigenpresenting cells (APCs) to the antigen (Ag)-specific T-cell receptor (TCR) and accessory receptors on T cells. 1 The principal stimulatory accessory signal is transmitted by B7-1 (CD80) or B7-2 (CD86) on APCs to the CD28 receptor on T cells. 2 Interestingly, engagement of the same B7-1 or B7-2 ligand to CTLA-4 (CD152) on T cells markedly attenuates T-cell responses. 3,4 The importance of CTLA-4 as an inhibitory regulator of T-cell activation is illustrated by death of CTLA-4-deficient mice within 4 weeks of birth because of massive lymphocytic infiltration destroying critical organs. 5 More recently, other inhibitory regulators of T-cell activation were identified, including PD-L1 (B7-H1) and PD-L2 (B7-DC) on APCs and PD-1 on T cells, 6 BTLA on B cells and T helper 1 (Th1) effector cells and its ligand (herpes virus entry mediator) on T cells, 7,8 and Tim-3 on APCs and Th1 effector cells and Tim-3 ligand on CD4 ϩ T cells. [9][10][11] The T-cell ligands possess a single immunoglobulin (Ig)-like variable (IgV) domain, and the APC receptors contain both IgV and Ig constant (IgC) domains. 12 Interactions between ligand-receptor pairs are mediated predominantly by residues of Ig-like domains. 12 Because of their structural and functional similarities to B7 molecules, these ligands/receptors are considered members of the B7 receptor superfamily. 12 Ligation of PD-1 on T cells leads to inhibited T-cell responses that can be rescued by exogenous IL-2 or CD28 costimulation, [13][14][15] although one report showed that binding of PD-L1 (B7-H1) to PD-1 stimulated T-cell proliferation and IL-10 secretion. [16][17][18] PD-1 deficiency leads to exaggerated autoimmunity since PD-1 knockout mice develop splenomegaly, increased numbers of B and myeloid cells, increased serum IgG and IgA, and a lupus erythematosuslike disease with age. 19,20 These mice are also markedly susceptible to Ag-induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). 19,20 BTLA knockout mice do not exhibit developmental Tor B-cell defects, but their lymphocytes have heightened responses to anti-CD3 antibody (Ab) and to anti-IgM Ab; 8 these mice are also prone to developing EAE. 8 In the case of the Tim-3 pathway, its blockade by monoclonal Ab (mAb), Fc-fused soluble receptor, or gene disruption leads to exacerbated Th1-mediated autoimmune diabetes mellitus in nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice. 10,11 T-cell expression of PD-1, BTLA, or Tim-3 resembles CTLA-4 in that it is not constitutive, but is induced by activation. 21 Moreover, the costimulation delivered by each appears to be mediated through the TCR. 12 By contrast, expression of PD-1, BTLA, Tim-3, or their ligands differ from CTLA-4 in that it is not restricted to T cells, but is expressed more widely to include B cells and APCs. Indeed, some of these ligands (PD-L1 and PD-L2) are also expressed in nonlymphoid tissues. 12 Such broad expression profiles suggest that these molecules can modulate immune responses in secondary lympho...
Receptor-ligand interactions between APCs and T cells determine whether stimulation of the latter leads to activation or inhibition. Previously, we showed that dendritic cell-associated heparin sulfate proteoglycan-dependent integrin ligand (DC-HIL) on APC can inhibit T cell activation by binding an unknown ligand expressed on activated T cells. Because DC-HIL binds heparin/heparan sulfate and heparin blocks the inhibitory function of DC-HIL, we hypothesized that a heparin/heparan sulfate proteoglycan on activated T cells is the relevant ligand. Screening assays revealed that syndecan-4 (SD-4) is the sole heparan sulfate proteoglycan immunoprecipitated by DC-HIL from extracts of activated T cells and that blocking SD-4 abrogates binding of DC-HIL to activated T cells. Moreover, cell-bound SD-4 ligated by DC-HIL or cross-linked by anti-SD-4 Ab attenuated anti-CD3 responses, whereas knocked-down SD-4 expression led to enhanced T cell response to APC. Blockade of endogenous SD-4 using specific Ab or soluble SD-4 receptor led to augmented T cell reactions to syngeneic and allogeneic stimulation in vitro and exacerbated contact hypersensitivity responses in vivo. We conclude that SD-4 is the T cell ligand through which DC-HIL mediates its negative coregulatory function.
Ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation is an important inducer of many biologic changes in skin, of which keratinocytes are a key target. To gain better insight into changes in gene expression generated in the early phase after UVB exposure, we used complementary RNA (cRNA) microarray hybridization to compare differences in mRNA expression of UVB-irradiated (single dose of 100 J/m2 broad-band UVB) and sham-irradiated primary cultured human keratinocytes. Six hours after irradiation, total RNA was isolated from keratinocytes, and cRNA was synthesized and hybridized to a GeneChip expression array (Affymetrix) consisting of 6800 genes. Based on a threshold of > twofold change, 187 genes (2.8%) were designated to be the most UVB-responsive. Surprisingly, none of these genes had been shown previously to be modulated by UVB. Conversely, several genes in the microarray that had been reported previously to be UVB- responsive by other methods showed less (< twofold) or no change. Northern blotting of seven differentially modulated genes produced results similar to those derived from microarray technology, thereby validating the accuracy of screening. Clustering based on known or likely functions indicated that among 88 upregulated genes, nine encode for cytochrome c subunits, six for ribosomal proteins, and two for regulators of apoptosis. By contrast, many of the 99 downregulated genes are involved in transcription, differentiation and transport. These findings indicate that keratinocytes respond to a single low dose of broad-band UVB irradiation by enhancing processes involved in energy production and translation, while suppressing those related to transcription, differentiation and transport.
To examine the effects of different wavelengths of ultraviolet (UV) radiation on tumor necrosis factor (TNF) production, we took advantage of mice carrying a chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) reporter transgene bearing the entire TNF promoter and 3'-untranslated region. Aside from constitutive expression in the thymus, CAT activity was detected only in locally UVB- or UVC-irradiated skin. After UVB irradiation, markedly greater amounts of CAT activity were traced to the dermis rather than the epidermis; by contrast, almost all CAT activity was localized to the epidermis after UVC irradiation. Fibroblasts have not been shown previously to express the TNF gene, i.e., the TNF gene is highly methylated and inaccessible to exogenous modulation in 3T3 fibroblasts. However, the present report reveals that cultured dermal fibroblasts are capable of producing both CAT and TNF in response to treatment in vitro with either UVB irradiation, UVC irradiation, or lipopolysaccharide. These findings indicate that dermal fibroblasts may serve not only as a target for but also as a source of TNF.
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