CD4+ CD25+ Regulatory T Cells Control T Helper Cell Type 1 Responses to Foreign Antigens Induced by Mature Dendritic Cells In Vivo

Recent evidence suggests that in addition to their well known stimulatory properties, dendritic cells (DCs) may play a major role in peripheral tolerance. It is still unclear whether a distinct subtype or activation status of DC exists that promotes the differentiation of suppressor rather than effector T cells from naive precursors. In this work, we tested whether the naturally occurring CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cells (Treg) may control immune responses induced by DCs in vivo. We characterized the immune response induced by adoptive transfer of antigen-pulsed mature DCs into mice depleted or not of CD25+ cells. We found that the development of major histocompatibility complex class I and II–restricted interferon γ–producing cells was consistently enhanced in the absence of Treg. By contrast, T helper cell (Th)2 priming was down-regulated in the same conditions. This regulation was independent of interleukin 10 production by DCs. Of note, splenic DCs incubated in vitro with Toll-like receptor ligands (lipopolysaccharide or CpG) activated immune responses that remained sensitive to Treg function. Our data further show that mature DCs induced higher cytotoxic activity in CD25-depleted recipients as compared with untreated hosts. We conclude that Treg naturally exert a negative feedback mechanism on Th1-type responses induced by mature DCs in vivo

Les cellules dendritiques dans l'immunité, la mémoire et la tolérance

La première étape de la réponse immune est réalisée par des cellules "sentinelles": les cellules dendritiques (DC). Elles ont à la fois un rôle de surveillance de l’organisme et une capacité unique à alerter les lymphocytes T naïfs. Leur efficacité à présenter des antigènes rencontrés en périphérie à des lymphocytes résidant dans les organes lymphoïdes résulte d’une spécialisation de fonction au cours du temps. A l’état immature, elles capturent et apprêtent les antigènes protéiques au niveau de divers organes, mais ont une faible capacité stimulatrice. Par contre, à l’état mature, elles perdent la capacité de capturer des antigènes, acquièrent celle de sensibiliser des lymphocytes T et migrent vers les organes lymphoïdes. Cependant, des DC immatures sont présentes dans les organes lymphoïdes en contact avec les cellules T laissant supposer qu’elles pourraient jouer d’autres rôles que celui de sentinelles. L’immunisation de souris par injection de DC immatures ou matures nous a permis de mettre en évidence un rôle potentiel des DC immatures. Ces dernières induisent en effet une prolifération des cellules T CD4 et leur différenciation en cellules de mémoire en absence de réponse primaire effectrice (absence d’IFN-&Doctorat en sciences, Spécialisation biologie moléculaireinfo:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublishe

Dendritic Cells (DCs) in Immunity and Maintenance of Tolerance

SCOPUS: ch.binfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

The heat stable antigen (CD24) is not required for the generation of CD4+ effector and memory T cells by dendritic cells in vivo.

Previous work has established that CD24 is a costimulatory molecule for T-cell clonal expansion. Studies using CD24 -/- mice demonstrated that CD24 plays a critical role in the CD28-independent immune response against virus and soluble antigens. The role of CD24 on dendritic cells (DCs) has not been reported. Here, we compare the CD24(+/+) and CD24(-/-) DCs in the induction of initial clonal expansion and elicitation of memory CD4(+) T cells in vivo. Our results demonstrate that the CD24 expressed on DCs is essential neither for the induction of initial T-cell clonal expansion nor for elicitation of memory activity of primed T cells in vivo.Journal ArticleResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Depending on their maturation state, splenic dendritic cells induce the differentiation of CD4(+) T lymphocytes into memory and/or effector cells in vivo.

There is increasing evidence that dendritic cells (DC) display opposite functions in the immune system, as they may induce immunity or tolerance depending on intrinsic and environmental factors. In mice, adoptive transfer of mature DC pulsed extracorporeally with antigen induces the development of antigen-specific Th1- and Th2-type CD4(+) cells. In this work, we compared the adjuvant properties of immature (freshly isolated) and mature (cultured) splenic DC in vivo. Our data show that injection of either cell population induces the clonal expansion of CD4(+) T cells but that only mature DC trigger their differentiation into effector cells producing IFN-gamma. In contrast, transfer of immature DC provokes the development of intermediates in the differentiation process, similar to the central memory cells. These observations, together with data in the literature, suggest that DC may induce tolerance, memory, or immunity depending on their maturation state.Journal ArticleResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tFLWINinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

IL-9 exerts biological function on antigen-experienced murine T cells and exacerbates colitis induced by adoptive transfer.

IL-9 is involved in various T cell-dependent inflammatory models including colitis, encepahlitis, and asthma. However, the regulation and specificity of IL-9 responsiveness by T cells during immune responses remains poorly understood. Here, we addressed this question using two different models: experimental colitis induced by transfer of naive CD4 CD45RB T cells into immunodeficient mice, and OVA-specific T cell activation. In the colitis model, constitutive IL-9 expression exacerbated inflammation upon transfer of CD4 CD45RB T cells from WT but not from Il9r mice, indicating that IL-9 acts directly on T cells. Suprisingly, such naïve CD4 CD45RB T cells failed to express the Il9r or respond to IL-9 in vitro, in contrast with CD4 CD45RB T cells. By using OVA-specific T cells, we observed that T cells acquired the capacity to respond to IL-9 along with CD44 upregulation, after long-lasting (5 to 12 days) in vivo antigenic stimulation. Il9r expression was associated with Th2 and Th17 phenotypes. Interestingly, in contrast to the IL-2 response, antigen restimulation downregulated IL-9 responsiveness. Taken together, our results demonstrate that IL-9 does not act on naïve T cells but that IL-9 responsiveness is acquired by CD4 T cells after in vivo activation and acquisition of memory markers such as CD44

IL-22 Is Required for Imiquimod-Induced Psoriasiform Skin Inflammation in Mice.

Psoriasis is a common chronic autoimmune skin disease of unknown cause that involves dysregulated interplay between immune cells and keratinocytes. IL-22 is a cytokine produced by the TH1, TH17, and TH22 subsets that are functionally implicated in the psoriatic pathology. We assessed the role of IL-22 in a mouse model where psoriasiform skin inflammation is triggered by topical application of the TLR7/8 agonist imiquimod. At the macroscopic level, scaly skin lesions induced by daily applications of imiquimod in wild-type mice were almost totally absent in IL-22-deficient mice or in mice treated with a blocking anti-IL-22 Ab. At the microscopic level, IL-22-deficient mice showed a dramatic decrease in the development of pustules and a partial decrease in acanthosis. At the molecular level, the absence or inhibition of IL-22 strongly decreased the expression of chemotactic factors such as CCL3 and CXCL3 and of biomarkers such as S100A8, S100A7, and keratin 14, which reflect the antimicrobial and hyperproliferative responses of keratinocytes. IL-22 also played a major role in neutrophil infiltration after imiquimod treatment. IL-23 was required for IL-22 production, and γδ TCR lymphocytes represented the major source of IL-22 in lymph nodes from imiquimod-treated mice. However, T cells were not absolutely required for IL-22 production because imiquimod-induced IL-22 expression in the skin is still preserved in Rag2(-/-) mice. Taken together, our data show that IL-22 is required for psoriasis-like lesions in the mouse imiquimod model and is produced by both T cells and innate immune cells

Dual TCR expression biases lung inflammation in DO11.10 transgenic mice and promotes neutrophilia via microbiota-induced Th17 differentiation.

A commonly used mouse model of asthma is based on i.p. sensitization to OVA together with aluminum hydroxide (alum). In wild-type BALB/c mice, subsequent aerosol challenge using this protein generates an eosinophilic inflammation associated with Th2 cytokine expression. By constrast, in DO11.10 mice, which are transgenic for an OVA-specific TCR, the same treatment fails to induce eosinophilia, but instead promotes lung neutrophilia. In this study, we show that this neutrophilic infiltration results from increased IL-17A and IL-17F production, whereas the eosinophilic response could be restored upon blockade of IFN-γ, independently of the Th17 response. In addition, we identified a CD4(+) cell population specifically present in DO11.10 mice that mediates the same inflammatory response upon transfer into RAG2(-/-) mice. This population contained a significant proportion of cells expressing an additional endogenous TCR α-chain and was not present in RAG2(-/-) DO11.10 mice, suggesting dual antigenic specificities. This particular cell population expressed markers of memory cells, secreted high levels of IL-17A, and other cytokines after short-term restimulation in vitro, and triggered a neutrophilic response in vivo upon OVA aerosol challenge. The relative numbers of these dual TCR lymphocytes increased with the age of the animals, and IL-17 production was abolished if mice were treated with large-spectrum antibiotics, suggesting that their differentiation depends on foreign Ags provided by gut microflora. Taken together, our data indicate that dual TCR expression biases the OVA-specific response in DO11.10 mice by inhibiting eosinophilic responses via IFN-γ and promoting a neutrophilic inflammation via microbiota-induced Th17 differentiation