Human CD103(+) dendritic cells promote the differentiation of Porphyromonas gingivalis heat shock protein peptide-specific regulatory T cells

Clickable Vitamins as a New Tool to Track Vitamin A and Retinoic Acid in Immune Cells

The vitamin A derivative, retinoid acid (RA) is key player in guiding adaptive mucosal immune responses. However, data on the uptake and metabolism of vitamin A within human immune cells has remained largely elusive because retinoids are small, lipophilic molecules which are difficult to detect. To overcome this problem and to be able to study the effect of vitamin A metabolism in human immune cell subsets, we have synthesized novel bio-orthogonal retinoid-based probes (clickable probes), which are structurally and functionally indistinguishable from vitamin A. The probes contain a functional group (an alkyne) to conjugate to a fluorogenic dye to monitor retinoid molecules in real-time in immune cells. We demonstrate, by using flow cytometry and microscopy, that multiple immune cells have the capacity to internalize retinoids to varying degrees, including human monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DCs) and naïve B lymphocytes. We observed that naïve B cells lack the enzymatic machinery to produce RA, but use exogenous retinoic acid to enhance CD38 expression. Furthermore, we showed that human DCs metabolize retinal into retinoic acid, which in co-culture with naïve B cells led to of the induction of CD38 expression. These data demonstrate that in humans, DCs can serve as an exogenous source of RA for naïve B cells. Taken together, through the use of clickable vitamins our data provide valuable insight in the mechanism of vitamin A metabolism and its importance for human adaptive immunity.

Expression of CD1a, CD207, CD11b, CD11c, CD103, and HLA-DR receptors on the surface of dendritic cells in the skin of patients with atopic dermatitis

Introduction

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic skin disorder of unknown etiopathogenesis. Its development is based on the influence of environmental factors, genetic and immunologic disorders. Undoubtedly, an important role is played by changes in quantitative and qualitative information on dendritic cells.

Aim

Assessment of CD1a, CD207, CD11b, CD11c, CD103, and HLA-DR receptors on the surface of dendritic cells in the skin of patients with atopic dermatitis.

Material and methods

The study group consisted of 45 patients with clinically diagnosed AD from whom biopsies were taken from the lesions. The control group was the material of 20 healthy people. To carry out the study the method of indirect immunofluorescence double staining reaction was used.

Results

Studied receptors gave positive reactions in both groups. The number of cells in healthy individuals was significantly lower than in patients. They also differed in appearance and location of the skin.

Conclusions

The CD1a/CD207 and CD1a/CD11c, CD1a/HLA-DR cell density was higher in AD patients compared to controls. There were differences in the location and appearance of the cells of AD patients compared to controls. All cells in the epidermis identified with antibodies CD1a, CD11c and CD207 were dendritic cells.

Differential regulation of CD103 (αE integrin) expression in human dendritic cells by retinoic acid and Toll-like receptor ligands

CD103 (αE integrin) is an important dendritic cell (DC) marker that characterizes functionally distinct DC subsets in mice and humans. However, the mechanism by which CD103 expression is regulated in human DCs and the role of CD103 for DC function are not very well understood. Here, we show that retinoic acid (RA) treatment of human monocyte-derived DCs (MoDCs) increased the ability of the DCs to synthesize RA and induced MoDC expression of CD103 and β7 at the mRNA and protein level. In contrast, RA was unable to induce the expression of CD103 in primary human DCs isolated from the gastric mucosa. Inhibition of TGF-β signaling in MoDCs down-regulated RA-induced CD103 expression, indicating that TGF-β-dependent pathways contribute to the induction of CD103. Conversely, when RA-treated MoDCs were stimulated with live Helicobacter pylori, commensal bacteria, LPS, or a TLR2 agonist, the RA-induced up-regulation of CD103 and β7 integrin expression was completely abrogated. To determine whether CD103 expression impacts DC priming of CD4⁺ T cells, we next investigated the ability of CD103⁺ and CD103^─ DCs to induce mucosal homing and T cell proliferation. Surprisingly, RA treatment of DCs enhanced both α4β7 expression and proliferation in cocultured T cells, but no difference was seen between RA-treated CD103⁺ and CD103^─ DCs. In summary, our data demonstrate that RA, bacterial products, and the tissue environment all contribute to the regulation of CD103 on human DCs and that DC induction of mucosal homing in T cells is RA dependent but not CD103 dependent.

Critical role of CCL22/CCR4 axis in the maintenance of immune homeostasis during apoptotic cell clearance by splenic CD8α(+) CD103(+) dendritic cells

Macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs) in murine spleen are essential for the maintenance of immune homeostasis by elimination of blood-borne foreign particles and organisms. It has been reported that splenic DCs, especially CD8α(+) CD103(+) DCs, are responsible for tolerance to apoptosis-associated antigens. However, the molecular mechanism by which these DCs maintain immune homeostasis by blood-borne apoptotic cell clearance remains elusive. Here, we found that the CCL22/CCR4 axis played a critical role in the maintenance of immune homeostasis during apoptotic cell clearance by splenic CD8α(+) CD103(+) DCs. The present results revealed that systemic administration of apoptotic cells rapidly induced a large number of CCL22 and CCR4(+) regulatory T (Treg) cells in the spleen of C57BL/6J mice. Further study demonstrated that CD8α(+) CD103(+) DCs dominantly produce much higher CCL22 than CD8α(+) CD103(-) DCs. Moreover, the transient deletion of CD8α(+) CD103(+) DCs caused a decrease in CCL22 levels together with CCR4(+) Treg cell percentage. Subsequently, the levels of some pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-17 and interferon-γ in the spleen with the absence of CD8α(+) CD103(+) DCs increased in response to the administration of apoptotic cells. Hence, intravenous injection of apoptotic cells induced a subsequent increase in CCL22 expression and CCR4(+) Treg cells, which contribute to the maintenance of immune homeostasis at least partially by splenic CD8α(+) CD103(+) DCs.