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Endocytosis by antigen presenting cells: dendritic cells are as endocytically active as other antigen presenting cells.

Although dendritic cells are the most potent of all antigen presenting cells, they have paradoxically been regarded as having only a minimal capacity for endocytosis, which is a crucial step in antigen processing prior to presentation. Previous studies of dendritic cells, which are only available in small numbers, have been restricted to measurement of long-term endocytosis and so have stressed lysosomal accumulation. Measurement of traffic through late endosomes, which are closely related to the organelle in which antigen processing occurs, has, to date, required large numbers of cells and therefore has not been possible for dendritic cells. To resolve the paradox for dendritic cells, we have developed a flow cytometric assay of fluid-phase endocytosis that assesses late endosomal traffic by kinetic analysis of exocytosis in small numbers of cells. Using this assay, we show that fluid-phase endocytosis--in particular, traffic through late endosomes--is as active in dendritic cells as in other antigen presenting cells.

Animals

Processing and presentation of intact hen egg-white lysozyme by dendritic cells.

Dendritic cells in lymphoid tissues are of key importance as highly specialized antigen-presenting cells for the induction of T lymphocyte responses. Conflicting results have been published regarding antigen processing of intact proteins by dendritic cells. We now report that highly purified dendritic cells isolated from H-2k mouse spleens very efficiently generated immunogenic fragments of intact hen egg-white lysozyme (HEL) protein to present to an I-Ak-restricted T hybridoma cell line, specific for HEL peptide 46-61. Dendritic cells required 100 times less HEL protein than lipopolysaccharide-induced B cell blasts for effective presentation. Uptake of 125I-labeled HEL protein by dendritic cells and inhibition of presentation of HEL protein by chloroquine treatment was observed. This indicates an endocytotic process and the involvement of acidified compartments. Since the supernatant of dendritic cells, that were incubated with intact HEL protein, contained immunogenic fragments, further evidence for processing of HEL protein by dendritic cells was obtained. When HEL protein was covalently coupled to beads, dendritic cells were not able to ingest these beads, but could still process HEL protein for presentation. This suggests cell surface processing of HEL protein, although internalization of HEL protein released from the beads cannot be excluded. Taken together, these data show that H-2k dendritic cells are capable of processing and presenting intact HEL protein.

Animals

Internalization of Ia molecules into Birbeck granule-like structures in murine dendritic cells.

Dendritic cells isolated from the draining lymph nodes of mice sensitized epicutaneously with hapten are potent antigen-presenting cells and contain Birbeck granules and cored tubules characteristic of antigen-activated epidermal Langerhans cells. We used immunogold labeling and transmission electron microscopy to follow the internalization of Ia molecules in these antigen-presenting cells. We found that Ia molecules were internalized into Birbeck granule-like structures in the antigen-activated dendritic cells. Computer reconstruction of serial sections of the dendritic cells demonstrated that these structures span the cytoplasm from the cell membrane to the nuclear membrane and are associated with lysosomes. The internalization of Ia molecules into these structures supports the hypothesis that the Birbeck granule-like structures are derived from the cell membrane and are involved in the antigen-processing/presenting function of the dendritic cells.

Animals

Morphological and functional characteristics of rat steady state peritoneal dendritic cells.

Dendritic cells (DC) are present in lymphoid organs and also in many non-lymphoid tissues. In this study, DC in the steady state peritoneal cavity of rats were identified morphologically and functionally. Approximately 1% of the peritoneal cells are DC. On cytocentrifuge preparations these cells had the same characteristics as lymph node and spleen DC: they had an irregular outline, all were strongly MHC class II positive and had acid phosphatase activity in a spot in a juxtanuclear position. Also ultrastructurally, peritoneal DC were similar to DC isolated from lymph node and spleen. Enrichment of peritoneal DC, using overnight culture and a Nycodenz gradient, resulted in a highly purified DC fraction. Functionally, peritoneal DC appeared to be very potent antigen-presenting cells, far more potent than peritoneal macrophages, which had an inhibitory rather than an accessory function.

Acid Phosphatase

Epitopes for CD1a, CD1b, and CD1c antigens are differentially mapped on Langerhans cells, dermal dendritic cells, keratinocytes, and basement membrane zone in human skin.

BACKGROUND: CD1 antigens are classified serologically into at least three groups, CD1a, CD1b, and CD1c, and many kinds of monoclonal antibodies are available for each subgroup of CD1 antigens. CD1a, CD1b, and CD1c antigens have been shown to be selectively and differentially expressed on epidermal Langerhans cells and dermal dendritic cells in normal human skin. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to further delineate the localization of epitopes of CD1 antigens in human skin. METHODS: We examined the immunoreactivity of 14 different CD1 antibodies (seven CD1a, five CD1b, and two CD1c antibodies) with the immunoperoxidase technique. We also studied the reactivity of NU-T2 (CD1b) antibody by immunogold electron microscopy. RESULTS: The epitopes for CD1a, CD1b, and CD1c antigens were differentially mapped on epidermal Langerhans cells, dermal dendritic cells, keratinocytes, the luminal portion of eccrine gland ducts, and the basement membrane zone in human skin. CONCLUSION: These CD1 antibodies may be useful to analyze the phenotypic alteration of immune and nonimmune cells in various skin diseases.

Antigens, CD

Adhesion molecules on human tonsil dendritic cells.

Dendritic cells are specialist antigen-presenting cells that have a unique ability to stimulate a primary T cell response. Activation of T cells by DC depends on the formation of cell clusters creating DC-T cell membrane contact that probably involves adhesion molecules. Monoclonal antibodies were used to study adhesion molecules on DC, including members of the integrin and immunoglobulin supergene families. DC expressed LFA-1, ICAM-1, LFA-3, and the Hermes antigen, but no other integrin or immunoglobulin supergene family adhesion molecules were detected using a sensitive immunoperoxidase staining technique. Monoclonal antibodies to LFA-1 alpha and LFA-1 beta inhibited DC-stimulated allogeneic T cell (MLR) responses by 75 +/- 12% and 74 +/- 8%, respectively, as did the anti-LFA-3 (56 +/- 3% inhibition) and anti-LFA-2 (60 +/- 5% inhibition) antibodies. Three different anti-ICAM-1 antibodies inhibited only to a limited degree (mean range 8-24%). The inhibitory effect of the LFA-1 and LFA-3 antibodies was maximal if added early to the MLR. The inhibitory effect of the different antibodies was associated with variable decreases in DC-T cell cluster stability. The simultaneous addition of monoclonal antibodies to MLRs and preincubation washing experiments established that DC have at least 3 independent adhesion ligand interactions (LFA-1-ICAM-1, ICAM-1-LFA-1, and LFA-3-CD2) with T cells. It seems likely that the additional ligand for LFA-1, ICAM-2, is expressed on DC and contributes significantly to DC-T cell adherence and T cell activation. The membrane mobility of these molecules may also be important in the DC-T cell activation process.

Antibodies

Differentiation of human monocytes into CD14 negative accessory cells: do dendritic cells derive from the monocytic lineage?

Human peripheral-blood monocytes, when cultured in the absence of serum, are prevented to differentiate to macrophages (M phi). Instead, they develop into accessory cells which by various properties resemble dendritic cells. Signals that control development either into M phi or monocyte-derived accessory cells (m-AC) have been investigated by us. By applying such triggers, m-AC phenotypes and functions approached those known from lymphoid dendritic cells. Only the monocyte marker CD14, which is absent from dendritic cells, remained positive on m-AC as a last indicator of the monocytic origin of the cells. We now report that this most stable marker of the monocyte/M phi lineage can completely be down-regulated by combining tissue culture techniques with the inductive property of interleukin-4. Evidence has also been obtained by us that the conversion of monocytes into both m-AC and M phi represents a true differentiation, as demonstrated by the expression of the nuclear marker lamin A/C.

Antigen-Presenting Cells

TNF in combination with GM-CSF enhances the differentiation of neonatal cord blood stem cells into dendritic cells and macrophages.

We describe dendritic cell progenitors within the CD34+ stem cell compartment in neonatal cord blood and identify growth factors contributing to their differentiation. Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), although mainly promoting the growth and differentiation of monocyte-macrophages (mono-m psi s), also induced the differentiation of cells with the distinctive morphological features of dendritic cells (DCs). Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in combination with GM-CSF promoted further growth of both cell types but most notably increased the DC content. In situ analysis revealed that the cells exhibiting DC morphology were positive for class II major histocompatibility complex antigens but were CD14 negative, did not exhibit nonspecific esterase activity, and were nonphagocytic. Moreover, the mixed leukocyte reaction stimulatory capacity of cultures with the higher DC content was greater. TNF, interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-6, or platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) was inactive in promoting stem cell proliferation or DC morphology. IL-1 or PDGF synergized with GM-CSF to increase mono-m psi-associated cell proliferation but did not increase the DC content. The development of a common DC-monocyte precursor was suggested by the presence of colony-forming unit-like clusters containing mono-m psi s and DCs and one sharp proliferative peak. The loss of DC morphology after 21 days, coupled with increases in mono-m psi-associated markers and a constant number of viable cells, further suggests that DC morphology may fluctuate in culture or is a transient feature acquired by certain cells of the mono-m psi lineage.

Cell Differentiation

CD45 epitope mapping of human CD1a+ dendritic cells and peripheral blood dendritic cells.

The authors studied the pattern of leukocyte common antigen (CD45) epitope expression on dendritic cells in sections of human epidermis, tonsillar epithelium, dermatopathic lymph nodes, and in isolates from blood. The monoclonal antibodies (MAb) used were specific for all known CD45 epitopes, including the seven different CD45 common epitopes as well as the four known CD45R epitopes (two CD45RA, one CD45RB, and one CD45RO). Dendritic cells in all sites were uniformly reactive for the CD45 common epitopes tested except 2B11, which may recognize a CD45R rather than CD45 epitope. By single-label immunoperoxidase and double-label immunofluorescence epitope mapping of CD1a+ dendritic cells in tissue sections, it was generally difficult or impossible to detect expression of CD45RA, CD45RB, CD45RO, or 2B11. In blood dendritic cells, however, low levels of these CD45R epitopes were detected consistently using single-label immunoperoxidase staining of cytocentrifuge preparations. Monocytes were similar to blood dendritic cells except that the staining with MAb to CD45RO and 2B11 was slightly stronger. The authors conclude that dendritic cells differ from most subpopulations of lymphocytes in that CD45 common epitopes are readily detectable but the existing RA, RB, and RO epitopes are either undetectable or expressed at relatively low levels. These studies raise the possibility that CD1a+ dendritic cells may express a novel dominant CD45 isoform.

Antigens, CD

Morphological, immunohistochemical and functional homologies between pituitary folliculo-stellate cells and lymphoid dendritic cells.

Lymphoid dendritic cells and pituitary folliculo-stellate cells have many morphological and immunocytochemical characteristics in common. They both have a stellate morphology, they are specifically detected by the presence of MHC class II determinants as well as the Ca(2+)-binding protein S100, they also produce the cytokine interleukin 6. A panel of monoclonal antibodies directed against murine and rat macrophages and/or dendritic cells was used to study the presence of dendritic and folliculo-stellate cells in the mouse and rat anterior pituitary. In the mouse pituitary stellate cells are detected with a monoclonal antibody against the dendritic cell aminopeptidase, but these cells display no S100 protein immunoreactivity. In the rat pituitary there were many S100 protein positive folliculo-stellate cells as well as a few macrophage-like cells, whereas stellate cells that express MHC class II markers were found in both mouse and rat anterior pituitaries. The present data suggest of a homology between lymphoid dendritic cells and pituitary folliculo-stellate cells, or at least a subgroup of the latter cells.

Animals

Dendritic cells and dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB): a new treatment approach to AIDS.

Recent studies suggest that antigen-presenting cells (dendritic cells) may play a key role in the pathogenesis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. This observation makes new immunomodulatory treatment strategies desirable. Topical dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) is discussed as a possible treatment modality in the context of its proven therapeutic uses and its immunomodulatory effect on dendritic cells. DNCB may be a safe, inexpensive, and widely available treatment option for HIV disease.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

Both epidermal dendritic cell populations, Langerhans' cells and Thy 1+ dendritic cells are simultaneously stained by an Lyt-1 monoclonal antibody.

Both Langerhans' cells (LC) and Thy 1+ dendritic epidermal cells (DEC) are bone marrow-derived epidermal cells that are thought to play an important role in immune responses. Despite their several similarities, the surface phenotypes of both cells appear to be almost mutually exclusive. We found that an anti-Lyt-1.2 monoclonal antibody that recognizes solely an epitope on certain T cells can crossreact with a shared epitope on both cell types. The morphological details of LCs and Thy 1+ DECs stained by the anti-Lyt-1.2 MAb was superior to those stained by either anti-I-A or anti-Thy-1 MAb. The availability of this MAb enables us to simultaneously view both cell populations in the same sections.

Animals

Phorbol myristate acetate and calcium ionophore A23187 modulate the accessory cell function of mouse dendritic cells.

Dendritic cells (DC) comprise a small subpopulation of lymphoid cells, with distinct morphologic features, surface phenotypes and a potent accessory function in T cell-dependent immune responses. In the present study, we investigated the in vitro effects of a tumor promoter, phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), and calcium ionophore A23187 on the accessory cell function of mouse spleen DCs in the primary mixed lymphocyte reaction (1 degree MLR) and oxidative mitogenesis (OM). A multi-step purification procedure was used to procure a highly enriched DC population from mouse spleen. The accessory cell activity of the DCs so obtained was much stronger than that of M phi s in both MLR and OM. The effects of PMA, a protein kinase C (PKC) activator, on DC were dose-dependent. If pretreated with 50 ng/ml of PMA for 3 h, DC activity was enhanced by about two-fold; whereas 200 ng/ml decreased DC activity with an inhibition rate of about 50%. However, in the latter situation, a moderate increase in DC activity was seen in the early phase of the response. When pretreated with 0.5-1.0 mumol/L A23187 for 6-8 h, the accessory cell activity of DCs was twice as potent as that of the control, and the enhancing effect was sustained in both MLR and OM. Our results indicate that the function of DCs, a cell type with constitutively high accessory cell activity, can be further promoted by A23187 or a low dose of PMA. This is also circumstantial evidence of an up-regulation of DC activity via PKC activation and/or an increase in cytoplasmic calcium.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals

Intraepithelial airway dendritic cells: a distinct subset of pulmonary dendritic cells obtained by microdissection.

Dendritic cells (DC), in general, and pulmonary DC, in particular, are a heterogeneous population of cells, their phenotype and function being dependent on their anatomic location, their state of activation, and the regulatory effect of locally secreted cytokines. Using a novel microdissection technique, the epithelium from the trachea and entire airway system was harvested, and the contained DC isolated at greater than 90% purity. The phenotype and function of these airway DC (ADC) was compared to DC isolated, at greater than 90% purity, from the parenchyma of the same lung. In contrast to lung DC (LDC), ADC did not express intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) in situ, the amount of immune associated antigen (Ia) expressed was less (as determined by immunoperoxidase staining and immunopanning), and greater than 50% of ADC displayed Fc receptors (FcR). The majority of LDC were ICAM-1+, less than 5% expressed FcR, and all were intensely Ia+. Airway DC were most numerous in tracheal epithelium, but they were also present in small numbers in the epithelium of the most distal airways. Their numbers increased in all segments of the tracheobronchial epithelium in response to the administration of IFN-gamma. ADC were consistently more effective than LDC in presenting soluble (hen egg lysozyme) and particulate (heat-killed Listeria monocytogenes) antigens to antigen-sensitized T cells. By contrast, LDC were significantly more efficient in stimulating the proliferation of nonsensitized T cells in an autologous mixed leukocyte reaction. These data suggest that in normal animals, intraepithelial DC of airways share many attributes with Langerhans cells of the skin. Interstitial LDC, by contrast, reside in an environment where they may be exposed to a different set of regulatory factors and where they have progressed to a more advanced stage of differentiation than ADC. Both groups of DC are, however, heterogeneous, reflecting the continuous turnover that these cells undergo in the lung.

Animals

[Pulmonary dendritic cells].

The dendritic cells were initially described in lymphoid organs and have been recently shown in the normal human lung at the level of the bronchioles, preferentially in the peribronchiolar connective tissue and in the alveolar parenchyma. Langerhans cells, which constitute a sub-population amongst the dendritic cells are equally present, but virtually exclusively limited to the bronchiolar epithelium. The pulmonary Langerhans cells probably derive from dendritic cells as in the skin. The number and state of differentiation of pulmonary dendritic cells vary as a function of the epithelial microenvironment which seems necessary in the differentiation of dendritic cells into Langerhans cells. Langerhans cells are frequently seen in zones of alveolar hyperplasia and/or alveolar metaplasia induced by tobacco or by inflammatory lesions. Dendritic cells and Langerhans cells have a potent capacity for presenting an antigen to lymphocytes. Their presence in the normal lung and their differentiation in the course of certain pathological pulmonary processes strongly suggest that they have a significant role in the pulmonary immune response as well as in the pathogenesis of certain diseases.

Dendritic Cells

The immunologic properties of epidermal Langerhans cells as a part of the dendritic cell system.

Dendritic cells form a system of antigen-presenting cells that is widely distributed in the body. They constitute trace populations in lymphoid and non-lymphoid tissues and in the circulation. They are characterized by their typical dendritic and "veiled" morphology, by their constitutive expression of high levels of major histocompatibility complex class II molecules on their surface, and by their outstanding capacity to initiate primary immune responses. Dendritic cells occur in two states of differentiation. In the immature state they are highly specialized for processing foreign protein antigens; in the mature state they efficiently stimulate resting antigen-specific T cells. Dendritic cells can migrate from the non-lymphoid tissues, where they reside in the immature state, via the afferent lymphatics or the blood to the T cell-dependent areas of the lymphoid organs (lymph nodes, spleen). There, they appear as mature dendritic cells. Therefore, dendritic cells are ideally suited to mediate important aspects of immunogenicity: they can acquire antigens in the tissues and process them in an immunogenic form; they can carry the immunogen to the lymphoid organs; and they can find and efficiently activate antigen-specific T cell clones and thus generate an immune response. Studies of epidermal Langerhans cells have greatly helped in establishing this concept. They can be investigated freshly isolated from the epidermis where they represent immature (tissue) dendritic cells. After 2-3 days in culture they develop into mature dendritic cells. The mechanisms of dendritic cell maturation, which can be studied best using epidermal Langerhans cells, and the specific functions of Langerhans cells in immunogenicity are discussed.

Animals

Functional analysis of macrophages, B cells and splenic dendritic cells as antigen-presenting cells in West Nile virus-specific murine T lymphocyte proliferation.

In this paper, the relative efficacy of macrophages, B cells and splenic dendritic cells (SDC) in presenting West Nile virus (WNV) antigens to WNV memory CD4+ T cells is examined. The results indicate that, under appropriate conditions, all these cell types can function as antigen-presenting cells (APC). Listeria-induced peritoneal macrophages induced higher proliferative responses than SDC or B cells derived from naive or 14 day WNV-primed mice. The ability of Listeria-induced macrophage populations to present antigen was specifically inhibited by anti-Class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antibodies. On a cell population basis, B cells obtained from mice primed with WNV 14 days previously evoked higher responses than resting B cells. B cells from mice receiving weekly injections of WNV over a period of 4 weeks elicited optimal responses with lower doses of antigen than naive or 14 day WNV-primed B cells. When macrophages were used as APC, addition of specific antibodies to WNV resulted in increased efficiency of presentation, probably due to increased uptake of antigen by opsonization. In contrast, addition of anti-WNV antibodies to hyperimmune B cells reduced their efficacy presumably by reducing uptake of antigen by B cell surface immunoglobulin. When SDC from C57BL/6 mice were used as APC, WNV-specific proliferative responses were directly related to the number of stimulator cells used, and the background proliferation with mock antigen was two- to five-fold lower than specific responses. Higher levels of background proliferation were stimulated by SDC from CBA/H mice so that the antigen-specific responses were always less than two-fold higher than background.

Animals

Adhesion of human B cells to follicular dendritic cells involves both the lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1/intercellular adhesion molecule 1 and very late antigen 4/vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 pathways.

Presentation of antigen in the form of immune complexes to B lymphocytes by follicular dendritic cells (FDC) is considered to be a central step in the generation of memory B cells. During this process, which takes place in the microenvironment of the germinal center, B cells and FDC are in close physical contact. In the present study, we have explored the molecular basis of FDC-B cell interaction by using FDC and B cells derived from human tonsils. We found that FDC express high levels of the adhesion receptors intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1 [CD54]) and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1), while the B lymphocytes express lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1 (LFA-1 [CD11a/18]), very late antigen 4 (VLA-4 [CD49d], and CD44. Furthermore, we established that both the LFA-1/ICAM-1 and VLA-4/VCAM-1 adhesion pathways are involved in FDC-B lymphocyte binding, and therefore, these pathways might be essential in affinity selection of B cells and in the formation of B memory cells.

Antigens, CD