CD70 expression by dendritic cells plays a critical role in the immunogenicity of CD40-independent, CD4+ T cell-dependent, licensed CD8+ T cell responses.

The stimulation of DC by CD4(+) T cells is known to condition DC to activate naïve CD8(+) T cells, predominantly via CD40-CD40L interactions. It has been proposed that a critical consequence of DC conditioning is the induction of CD70 expression. Whether and how CD70 induction contributes to CD8(+) T cell responses in the absence of CD40-CD40L interactions are unknown. CD8(+) T cell responses to adenoviral- or DC-based immunization of CD40-deficient mice revealed a CD40-independent, CD4(+) T cell-dependent pathway for CD70 induction on conventional DC. This pathway and subsequent CD8(+) T cell responses were enhanced by, but not dependent on, concomitant activation of TLR and in part, used TRANCE and LIGHT/LTalphabeta stimulation. Blocking TRANCE and LIGHT/LTalphabeta during stimulation reduced the immunogenicity of CD40-deficient DC. These data support the hypothesis that induction of CD70 expression on DC after an encounter with activated CD4(+) T cells is a major component of CD4(+) T cell-mediated licensing of DC. Further, multiple pathways exist for CD4(+) T cells to elicit CD70 expression on DC. These data in part explain the capacity of CD40-deficient mice to mount CD8(+) T cell responses and may provide additional targets for immunotherapy in situations when CD40-mediated licensing is compromised.

1,25(OH)2D3 inhibits in vitro and in vivo intracellular growth of apicomplexan parasite Toxoplasma gondii.

The hormonal form of vitamin D, 1,25-dyhydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3), is implicated in a wide range of functions other than its classical role in calcium and phosphorous homeostasis. When Toxoplasma gondii-infected BALB/c mice were treated with 1,25(OH)2D3, they succumb to death sooner than their counterparts. But they showed less parasite burden in tissues which was further supported by mild pathological lesions. As an effort to understand the physiological mechanism for the above observation an in vitro study was performed. Fewer parasites were observed when 1,25(OH)2D3 pre-treated murine intestinal epithelial cells were challenged with parasites. Moreover, the observed inhibition was dose-dependent and had a maximum effect with 10(-7)M of 1,25(OH)2D3. However, no observable difference was observed, when pre-incubated parasites were added to cells suggesting that the observed inhibition was a result of an effect from 1,25(OH)2D3 on Toxoplasma intracellular growth. Our data support the notion that 1,25(OH)2D3 may inhibit intra cellular T. gondii parasite proliferation in vivo and in vitro.

1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 induces splenocyte apoptosis and enhances BALB/c mice sensitivity to toxoplasmosis.

The hormonal form of Vitamin D, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, is well known for its immunosuppressive, anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic activities. In the present work, we studied the effect of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 on Toxoplasma gondii-infected mice. We observed that 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 reduces the survival rate of infected mice by up to 37% at day 10 post-infection compared to untreated infected mice (P < 0.0001). IFN-gamma and IL-12p40 levels were significantly reduced by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 in infected mice sera indicating an inhibition of Th-1-type cytokines. CD4+ T lymphocyte and splenocyte counts were also reduced following 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 treatment and a marked induction of apoptosis, accompanied with down-regulation of the anti-apoptotic proteins Bcl-2 and Bcl-X(L), was observed. The above results indicate that 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 induces splenocyte apoptosis and enhances host susceptibility to toxoplasmosis.