Virus overrides the propensity of human CD40L-activated plasmacytoid dendritic cells to produce Th2 mediators through synergistic induction of IFN-{gamma} and Th1 chemokine production

Roles of Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells in Gastric Cancer

Gastric cancer (GC) is the fifth most common neoplasm and the third most deadly cancer in humans worldwide. Helicobacter pylori infection is the most important causative factor of gastric carcinogenesis, and activates host innate and adaptive immune responses. As key constituents of the tumor immune microenvironment, plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) are increasingly attracting attention owing to their potential roles in immunosuppression. We recently reported that pDCs have vital roles in the development of immunosuppression in GC. Clarifying the contribution of pDCs to the development and progression of GC may lead to improvements in cancer therapy. In this review, we summarize current knowledge regarding immune modulation in GC, especially the roles of pDCs in GC carcinogenesis and treatment strategies.

Antigen delivery to dendritic cells shapes human CD4+ and CD8+ T cell memory responses to Staphylococcus aureus

Intracellular persistence of Staphylococcus aureus favors bacterial spread and chronic infections. Here, we provide evidence for the existence of human CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cell memory against staphylococcal antigens. Notably, the latter could provide a missing link in our understanding of immune control of intracellular S. aureus. The analyses showed that pulsing of monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MoDC) with native staphylococcal protein antigens induced release of Th2-associated cytokines and mediators linked to T regulatory cell development (G-CSF, IL-2 and IL-10) from both CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells, thus revealing a state of tolerance predominantly arising from preformed memory T cells. Furthermore, G-CSF was identified as a suppressor of CD8⁺ T cell-derived IFNγ secretion, thus confirming a tolerogenic role of this cytokine in the regulation of T cell responses to S. aureus. Nevertheless, delivery of in vitro transcribed mRNA-encoded staphylococcal antigens triggered Th1-biased responses, e.g. IFNγ and TNF release from both naïve and memory T cells. Collectively, our data highlight the potential of mRNA-adjuvanted antigen presentation to enable inflammatory responses, thus overriding the existing Th2/Treg-biased memory T cell response to native S. aureus antigens.

Staphylococcus aureus is deemed one of the most important nosocomial pathogens but, to date, there are no safe and protective vaccines. In this study we investigate the nature of the preformed T cell response to S. aureus antigens in healthy donors. Our data reveal that CD4⁺ and—so far not described—CD8⁺ T cell memory responses against native staphylococcal antigens exist but are skewed towards minimizing inflammation and promoting tolerance. The T cell response to staphylococcal antigens is characterized by the secretion of typical Th2 cytokines such as IL-5 and IL-13 and mediators associated with formation of T regulatory cells. Most importantly, G-CSF suppresses IFNγ release from pre-existent memory T cells. However, our data reveal that the use of mRNA-encoded antigens to trigger S. aureus-specific T cell responses bears the potential to override the tolerogenic bias. It favors TNF- and IFNγ-releasing T cells and may, thus, represent an innovative tool in prophylactic and therapeutic vaccine development.

Synergistic production of TNFα and IFNα by human pDCs incubated with IFNλ3 and IL-3

In this study, we investigated whether IFNλ3 and IL-3 reciprocally influence their capacity to activate various functions of human plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs). In fact, we preliminarily observed that IFNλ3 upregulates the expression of the IL-3Rα (CD123), while IL-3 augments the expression of IFNλR1 in pDCs. As a result, we found that combination of IFNλ3 and IL-3 induces a strong potentiation in the production of TNFα, IFNα, as well as in the expression of Interferon-Stimulated Gene (ISG) mRNAs by pDCs, as compared to either IFNλ3 or IL-3 alone. In such regard, we found that endogenous IFNα autocrinally promotes the expression of ISG mRNAs in IL-3-, but not in IFNλ3 plus IL-3-, treated pDCs. Moreover, we uncovered that the production of IFNα by IFNλ3 plus IL-3-treated pDCs is mostly dependent on endogenously produced TNFα. Altogether, our data demonstrate that IFNλ3 and IL-3 collaborate to promote, at maximal levels, discrete functional responses of human pDCs.

Anti-inflammatory treatment of traumatic brain injury with Rabeximod reduces cerebral antigen presentation in mice

A major component of the damaging effect after traumatic brain injury (TBI) is activation of the inflammatory system. In particular, chemokines and chemokine-regulated factors become activated in resident brain cells and signal to different invading immune cells. For evaluation of the effect on invading cells 3 days after injury, mice were treated with a single initial dose of the anti-inflammatory agent Rabeximod in an experimental TBI model. For comparison, mice subjected to TBI were similarly injected with cyclophosphamide. TBI resulted in reduced body weight, an effect further enhanced by administration of Rabeximod, without obvious influence on motor performance. As revealed by quantitative RT-PCR, microglial upregulation of chemokine Ccl3 in response to TBI was unaffected by Rabeximod. Also, injury-induced expression of Cxcl10 in plasmacytoid dendritic cells (DCs) and endothelial expression of platelet selectin (Selp) were uninfluenced by Rabeximod. In contrast, Rabeximod robustly reduced the H2-Aa transcript characteristic for classical DCs defined by CD11c/Itgax in the injured brain. In addition, the expression of lysozyme 2 in large phagocytic cells was impaired by Rabeximod. These results show that Rabeximod exerts a selective and potent inhibition of cells serving cortical antigen presentation after brain trauma.

Interacting chemokine signals regulate dendritic cells in acute brain injury

Brain trauma is known to activate inflammatory cells via various chemokine signals although their interactions remain to be characterized. Mice deficient in Ccl3, Ccr2 or Cxcl10 were compared with wildtype mice after controlled cortical impact injury. Expression of Ccl3 in wildtypes was rapidly upregulated in resident, regularly spaced reactive microglia. Ccl3-deficiency enhanced endothelial expression of platelet selectin and invasion of peripheral inflammatory cells. Appearance of Ccr2 transcripts, encoding the Ccl2 receptor, reflected invasion of lysozyme 2-expressing phagocytes and classical antigen-presenting dendritic cells expressing major histocompatibility complex class II. Ccr2 also directed clustered plasmacytoid dendritic cells positive for the T-cell attracting chemokine Cxcl10. A reduction in Ccr2 and dendritic cells was found in injured wildtype cortex after cyclophosphamide treatment resembling effects of Ccr2-deficiency. The findings demonstrate the feasibility to control inflammation in the injured brain by regulating chemokine-dependent pathways.

Increased IFN-α-producing plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) in human Th1-mediated type 1 diabetes: pDCs augment Th1 responses through IFN-α production

Increasing evidence suggests that type 1 IFN (IFN-αβ) is associated with pathogenesis of Th1-mediated type 1 diabetes (T1D). A major source of IFN-αβ is plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs). In this study, we analyzed peripheral blood pDC numbers and functions in at-risk, new-onset, and established T1D patients and controls. We found that subjects at risk for T1D and new-onset and established T1D subjects possessed significantly increased pDCs but similar number of myeloid DCs when compared with controls. pDC numbers were not affected by age in T1D subjects but declined with increasing age in control subjects. It was demonstrated that IFN-α production by PBMCs stimulated with influenza viruses was significantly higher in T1D subjects than in controls, and IFN-α production was correlated with pDC numbers in PBMCs. Of interest, only T1D-associated Coxsackievirus serotype B4 but not B3 induced majority of T1D PBMCs to produce IFN-α, which was confirmed to be secreted by pDCs. Finally, in vitro studies demonstrated IFN-α produced by pDCs augmented Th1 responses, with significantly greater IFN-γ-producing CD4(+) T cells from T1D subjects. These findings indicate that increased pDCs and their IFN-αβ production may be associated with this Th1-mediated autoimmune disease, especially under certain viral infections linked to T1D pathogenesis.

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells in allergic asthma and the role of inhaled corticosteroid treatment

BACKGROUND

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) infiltrate sites of acute Th2-dominant inflammation, but their role in allergic asthma remains unclear.

OBJECTIVE

To characterize circulating pDCs from patients with allergic asthma outside their respective allergen season.

METHODS

Adhesion molecules, co-stimulatory molecules, immunoglobulin receptors and chemokine receptors were quantified on blood pDCs from 20 patients with allergic asthma and 18 healthy controls using flow cytometry. In addition, IL-6-, TNF-α- and IFN-α-secretion were analysed after stimulating isolated pDCs with TLR7- and TLR9-ligands.

RESULTS

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells from patients with allergic asthma showed an increased expression of chemokine receptors involved in inflamed tissue homing such as CCR2, CCR4, CCR9, CCR10, CXCR2, CXCR5 and CXCR6, while the expression of the lymph node homing receptor CXCR3 was down-regulated. In addition, these pDCs exhibited a higher expression of activation markers and Th2-associated molecules such as CD40, CD62L, CD64 and FcεRIα. In contrast, TLR7-mediated IL-6-, TNF-α- and IFN-α-secretion was significantly reduced in pDCs from patients with asthma. The TLR9-mediated cytokine response was only suppressed in those patients who were treated with inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) during previous allergen seasons. The same effect was observed for CD54 and OX40L expression.

CONCLUSIONS

We report an increased expression of activation markers, and Th2-associated molecules, and an increased migratory potential of circulating pDCs in allergic asthma. These changes are accompanied by a reduced TLR7-mediated cytokine response. In addition, our results suggest a longterm impact of ICS treatment on the characteristics of circulating pDCs.

Pathogen sensors and chemokine receptors in dendritic cell subsets

Pathogen sensors such as Toll-like receptors (TLRs) detect microorganism- or host-derived conserved molecular structures, including lipids or nucleic acids and provoke activation of Ag presenting cells such as dendritic cells (DCs). Several synthetic TLR ligands, especially oligonucleotides, are being developed as promising vaccines for infectious diseases, cancers or allergies. DCs are heterogeneous and consist of various subsets, each of which expresses a subset-specific repertoire of TLRs and responds to the TLR signaling in a subset-specific manner. Furthermore, each DC subset expresses a set of chemokine receptors that regulate its function and behavior. Here I review the functions of two DC subsets and how chemokine receptors function in these subsets. One is the plasmacytoid DC (pDC), which expresses nucleic acid sensing receptors TLR7 and TLR9 and secretes large amounts of type I interferons in response to TLR7/9 signaling. The other is splenic CD8α(+) conventional DC (cDC). This DC subset expresses lipid sensors, TLR2 and TLR4, and nucleic acid sensors, TLR3, TLR9 and TLR13 and is specialized for antigen crosspresentation. Several chemokine receptors are differentially expressed on these DC subsets. The homologues of these murine DC subsets are also found in humans. Understanding how these DC subsets function and respond to TLR ligands and chemokines should be important for development of effective vaccines.

Pivotal role of plasmacytoid dendritic cells in inflammation and NK-cell responses after TLR9 triggering in mice

The physiologic role played by plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) in the induction of innate responses and inflammation in response to pathogen signaling is not well understood. Here, we describe a new mouse model lacking pDCs and establish that pDCs are essential for the in vivo induction of NK-cell activity in response to Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) triggering. Furthermore, we provide the first evidence that pDCs are critical for the systemic production of a wide variety of chemokines in response to TLR9 activation. Consequently, we observed a profound alteration in monocyte, macrophage, neutrophil, and NK-cell recruitment at the site of inflammation in the absence of pDCs in response to CpG-Dotap and stimulation by microbial pathogens, such as Leishmania major, Escherichia coli, and Mycobacterium bovis. This study, which is based on the development of a constitutively pDC-deficient mouse model, highlights the pivotal role played by pDCs in the induction of innate immune responses and inflammation after TLR9 triggering.

Enveloped virus but not bacteria block IL-13 responses in human cord blood T cells in vitro

Infections that occur early in life may have a beneficial effect on the immune system and thereby reduce the risk of allergen sensitization and/or allergic disease. It is not yet clear to what extent specific virus and/or bacteria can mediate this effect. The purpose of this study was to assess the role of virus and bacteria in CD4⁺ T cell‐derived cytokine production in newborns. We compared the effects of five bacteria (Staphlococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Clostridium difficile, Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Bifidobacterium bifidus) and seven virus (adenovirus, coronavirus, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus, influenza virus, morbillivirus and poliovirus) on the Th1/Th2 cytokine production in mixed lymphocyte reactions using CD4⁺ T cells from cord blood cocultured with allogenic myeloid or plasmacytoid dendritic cells. When comparing the baseline cytokine production prior to microbial stimulation, we observed that cord plasmacytoid DC were stronger inducers of Th2 cytokines (IL‐5 and IL‐13) compared with cord myeloid DC and to adult DC. When adding microbes to these cultures, bacteria and virus differed in two major respects; Firstly, all enveloped viruses, but none of the bacteria, blocked Th2 (IL‐13) production by cord CD4⁺ cells. Secondly, all Gram‐positive bacteria, but none of the virus, induced IL‐12p40 responses, but the IL‐12p40 responses did not affect Th1 cytokine production (IFN‐γ). Instead, Th1 responses were correlated with the capacity to induce IFN‐α secretion, which in cord cells were induced by S. aureus and influenza virus alone. These data imply that enveloped virus can deviate Th2 responses in human cord T cells.

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells in HIV infection

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) are innate immune cells that are specialized to produce interferon-alpha (IFNα) and participate in activating adaptive immune responses. Although IFNα inhibits HIV-1 (HIV) replication in vitro, pDCs may act as inflammatory and immunosuppressive dendritic cells (DCs) rather than classical antigen-presenting cells during chronic HIV infection in vivo, contributing more to HIV pathogenesis than to protection. Improved understanding of HIV-pDC interactions may yield potential new avenues of discovery to prevent HIV transmission, to blunt chronic immune activation and exhaustion, and to enhance beneficial adaptive immune responses. In this chapter we discuss pDC biology, including pDC development from progenitors, trafficking and localization of pDCs in the body, and signaling pathways involved in pDC activation. We focus on the role of pDCs in HIV transmission, chronic disease progression and immune activation, and immunosuppression through regulatory T cell development. Lastly, we discuss potential future directions for the field which are needed to strengthen our current understanding of the role of pDCs in HIV transmission and pathogenesis.

Innate immune responses to human rotavirus in the neonatal gnotobiotic piglet disease model

Intestinal and systemic dendritic cell (DC) frequencies, serum and small intestinal content cytokines and uptake/binding of human rotavirus (HRV) virus-like particles (VLP) were studied in HRV acutely infected or mock-inoculated neonatal gnotobiotic piglets. Intestinal, mesenteric lymph node (MLN) and splenic plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs), conventional DCs (cDCs) and macrophages/monocytes were assessed by flow cytometry. In infected pigs, serum and small intestinal content interferon-α (IFN-α) were highest, interleukin-12 (IL-12) was lower and IL-10, tumour necrosis factor-α and IL-6 were minimal. Compared with mock-inoculated piglets, frequencies of total intestinal DCs were higher; splenic and MLN DC frequencies were lower. Most intestinal pDCs, but few cDCs, were IFN-α(+) and intestinal macrophages/monocytes were negative for IFN-α. Serum IFN-α levels and IFN-α(+) intestinal pDCs were highly correlated, suggesting IFN-α production in vivo by intestinal pDCs (r=0·8; P<0·01). The intestinal pDCs and cDCs, but not intestinal macrophages/monocytes, of HRV-infected piglets showed significantly lower VLP uptake/binding compared with mock-inoculated piglets, suggesting higher activation of pDCs and cDCs in infected piglets. Both intestinal pDCs and cDCs were activated (IFN-α(+) and lower VLP binding) after HRV infection, suggesting their role in induction of HRV-specific immunity. Dose-effects of HRV on serum IFN-α and IFN-α(+) DCs were studied by infecting piglets with 100-fold higher HRV dose. A high dose increased parameters associated with inflammation (diarrhoea, intestinal pathology) but serum IFN-α and IFN-α(+) DCs were similar between both groups. The pDCs have both anti- and pro-inflammatory functions. Stimulation of the anti-inflammatory effects of pDCs after the high dose, without increasing their pro-inflammatory impacts, may be critical to reduce further immunopathology during HRV infection.

Trafficking properties of plasmacytoid dendritic cells in health and disease

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (PDCs) represent a subset of circulating leukocytes characterized by the ability to release high levels of type I interferon (IFN). Under homeostatic conditions PDCs are confined to primary and secondary lymphoid organs. This is consistent with the restricted profile of functional chemotactic receptors expressed by circulating PDCs (i.e. CXCR4 and ChemR23). Accumulation of PDCs in non-lymphoid tissue is, however, observed in certain autoimmune diseases, allergic reactions and tumors. Indeed, PDCs are now considered to be involved in the pathogenesis of diseases characterized by a type I IFN-signature and are considered as a promising target for new intervention strategies. Here, current knowledge of the molecular mechanisms involved in the recruitment of PDCs under homeostatic and pathological conditions are summarized.

Characterization of the cytokine and maturation responses of pure populations of porcine plasmacytoid dendritic cells to porcine viruses and toll-like receptor agonists

Plausible representatives of plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) in pigs have been characterized as being CD4^hiCD172^lo. Due to their paucity in blood, we utilized novel fluorescent-activated cell sorting procedures to isolate them from PBMC. The resultant subset was greater than 98% homogeneous in regards to the selected phenotype and contained the preponderance of individuals secreting IFN-α after exposure to a known stimulant, transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV). In addition to being a potent source of IFN-α, other properties of these porcine CD4^hiCD172^lo cells including their morphological transition from a plasma cell-like shape during quiescence to one resembling a dendritic cell (DC) after activation by TGEV and their relatively strong constitutive expression of interferon regulatory factor-7 (IRF-7) conformed to the expectations of genuine pDCs. While a substantial IFN-α response was also elicited from the porcine pDCs by pseudorabies virus (PrV), swine influenza virus (SIV), and TLR7 and 9 agonists, there was an agent-dependent induction of varying amounts of IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, IFN-γ, and TNF-α. Notably, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) failed to provoke the pDCs to secrete any of the measured cytokines except IL-2. Moreover, whereas pDCs exposed to TGEV or the TLR9 agonist rapidly increased IRF-7 production and morphed into DCs with enhanced CD80/86 expression, similar alterations were not observed during incubation with PRRSV. This atypical response of pDCs to PRRSV may contribute to its pathogenesis, which unlike that associated with PrV, SIV or TGEV includes persistent infection and limited development of protective immunity.

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells capture and cross-present viral antigens from influenza-virus exposed cells

Among the different subsets of dendritic cells (DC), plasmacytoid dendritic cells (PDC) play a unique role in secreting large amounts of type I interferons upon viral stimulation, but their efficiency as antigen-presenting cells has not been completely characterized. We show here, by flow cytometry, with human primary blood PDC and with a PDC cell line, that PDC display poor endocytic capacity for soluble or cellular antigens when compared to monocyte-derived myeloid DC. However, immature PDC efficiently take up cellular material from live influenza-exposed cells, subsequently mature and cross-present viral antigens very efficiently to specific CD8+ T cells. Therefore, during viral infection PDC not only secrete immunomodulatory cytokines, but also recognize infected cells and function as antigen cross-presenting cells to trigger the anti-viral immune response.

Human mast cell activation with virus-associated stimuli leads to the selective chemotaxis of natural killer cells by a CXCL8-dependent mechanism

Human mast cells are found in skin and mucosal surfaces and next to blood vessels. They play a sentinel cell role in immunity, recognizing invading pathogens and producing proinflammatory mediators. Mast cells can recruit granulocytes, and monocytes in allergic disease and bacterial infection, but their ability to recruit antiviral effector cells such as natural killer (NK) cells and T cells has not been fully elucidated. To investigate the role of human mast cells in response to virus-associated stimuli, human cord blood-derived mast cells (CBMCs) were stimulated with polyinosinic.polycytidylic acid, a double-stranded RNA analog, or infected with the double-stranded RNA virus, reovirus serotype 3 Dearing for 24 hours. CBMCs responded to stimulation with polyinosinic.polycytidylic acid by producing a distinct chemokine profile, including CCL4, CXCL8, and CXCL10. CBMCs produced significant amounts of CXCL8 in response to low levels of reovirus infection, while both skin- and lung-derived fibroblasts were unresponsive unless higher doses of reovirus were used. Supernatants from CBMCs infected with reovirus induced substantial NK cell chemotaxis that was highly dependent on CXCL8 and CXCR1. These results suggest a novel role for mast cells in the recruitment of human NK cells to sites of early viral infection via CXCL8.

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells and type I IFN: 50 years of convergent history

It has been 50 years since the initial descriptions of what are now known as plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC) and type I IFN. pDC, which are infrequent cells found in the peripheral blood and lymphoid organs, are the most potent producers of type I and type III IFNs in the body. pDC produce IFN-alpha in response to both DNA and RNA enveloped viruses by virtue of their ribonucleic acids signaling in the endosome through TLR9 and TLR7, respectively. This stimulation, which also occurs with DNA or RNA-containing immune complexes and synthetic TLR7 and -9 agonists, is dependent upon the transcription factor IRF-7, which is expressed at high constitutive levels in pDC. In addition to releasing as much as 3-10pg of IFN-alpha/cell, pDC are also potent modulators of the immune response. In this review, we discuss the signaling pathways in pDC, their roles in linking innate and adaptive immunity, and their roles in infectious disease and autoimmunity.

A recombinant Sendai virus is controlled by CD4+ effector T cells responding to a secreted human immunodeficiency virus type 1 envelope glycoprotein

The importance of antigen-specific CD4(+) helper T cells in virus infections is well recognized, but their possible role as direct mediators of virus clearance is less well characterized. Here we describe a recombinant Sendai virus strategy for probing the effector role(s) of CD4(+) T cells. Mice were vaccinated with DNA and vaccinia virus recombinant vectors encoding a secreted human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) envelope protein and then challenged with a Sendai virus carrying a homologous HIV-1 envelope gene. The primed mice showed (i) prompt homing of numerous envelope-primed CD4(+) T cell populations to the virus-infected lung, (ii) substantial production of gamma interferon, and interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-4, and IL-5 in that site, and (iii) significantly reduced pulmonary viral load. The challenge experiments were repeated with immunoglobulin(-/-) microMT mice in the presence or absence of CD8(+) and/or CD4(+) T cells. These selectively immunodeficient mice were protected by primed CD4(+) T cells in the absence of antibody or CD8(+) T cells. Together, these results highlight the role of CD4(+) T cells as direct effectors in vivo and, because this protocol gives such a potent response, identify an outstanding experimental model for further dissecting CD4(+) T-cell-mediated immunity in the lung.

Virus or TLR agonists induce TRAIL-mediated cytotoxic activity of plasmacytoid dendritic cells

Among dendritic cells, plasmacytoid dendritic cells (PDC) represent a functionally distinct lineage. Regarding innate immunity, PDC secrete large amounts of type I IFN upon viral exposure or stimulation by microbial products such as unmethylated CpG-motif containing oligo-DNA due to their selective expression of TLR7 and TLR9. We asked whether they could acquire cytotoxic functions during the early phases of infection or after activation with TLR7 or TLR9 agonists. In the present study, we describe a human PDC cell line called GEN2.2, derived from leukemic PDC, that shares most of the phenotypic and functional features of normal PDC. We show that after contact with the influenza virus, GEN2.2, as well as normal PDC, acquires TRAIL and killer activity against TRAIL-sensitive target cells. Moreover, we show that activation of GEN2.2 cells by CpG-motif containing oligo-DNA or R848 also induces TRAIL and endows them with the ability to kill melanoma cells. Therefore, PDC may represent a major component of innate immunity that could participate to the clearance of infected cells and tumor cells. This phenomenon could be relevant for the efficacy of TLR7 or TLR9 agonists in the therapy of infectious disease and cancer.