DCs stimulated with particle-bound PADRE induce vigorous proliferation of naïve CD4⁺ T cells.

Abstract

<p>Adherent PBMCs previously depleted of T cells were cultured in presence of GM-CSF and IL-4 for five days and matured by incubation with particles carrying PADRE, P2C, a mixture of both, or a mixture of particles carrying either PADRE or P2C. After two days, the DCs were washed characterized by flow cytometry as for the experiments shown in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0063039#pone-0063039-g001" target="_blank">Figures 1</a> and <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0063039#pone-0063039-g002" target="_blank">2</a> and then co-cultured with CFSE-labelled naïve CD4⁺ T cells. After seven days of co-culture, the cells were harvested and labelled with antibodies to CD4, CD45RA and CD45RO and analyzed by flow cytometry. Proliferation of the T cells was determined by the reduction of CFSE upon successive cell divisions. The plots show CFSE and CD45RA (<b>A</b>) or CD45RO (<b>B</b>) on gated CD4⁺ T cells of one of five independent experiments with cells from five different healthy donors.</p