Dendritic cells derived from bone marrow cells fail to acquire and present major histocompatibility complex antigens from other dendritic cells.

Dendritic cells stimulate primary T-cell responses and a major activation route is via presentation of antigens pre-processed by other dendritic cells. This presentation of pre-processed antigens most likely proceeds through transfer of functional major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens through exosomes, 'live nibbling' or apoptotic vesicles. We hypothesized that not all dendritic cell populations may both donate MHC antigen to dendritic cells and present antigens acquired from other dendritic cells. All populations tested, including those derived from bone marrow precursor cells stimulated primary, allogeneic T-cell responses and acted as accessory cells for mitogen stimulation. Populations of responder type, splenic dendritic cells promoted allogeneic responses indirectly but those derived from bone marrow cells blocked rather than promoted T-cell proliferation. To identify mechanisms underlying this difference we studied transfer of I-A antigens between cells. Active, two-way transfer of allogeneic I-A occurred between splenic primary antigen presenting cells including CD8alpha+ lymphoid dendritic cells, CD8alpha- myeloid dendritic cells and B220+ cells; all these cell types donated as well as acquired MHC molecules. By contrast, the bone marrow-derived dendritic cells donated I-A antigens but acquired negligible amounts. Thus, dendritic cells derived directly from bone marrow cells may stimulate primary T-cell responses through transferring functional MHC to other dendritic cells but may not be able to acquire and present antigens from other dendritic cells. The evidence suggests that T-cell activation may be blocked by the presence of dendritic cells that have not matured through lymphoid tissues which are unable to acquire and present antigens pre-processed by other dendritic cells.

Adipose tissue of human omentum is a major source of dendritic cells, which lose MHC Class II and stimulatory function in Crohn's disease.

Adipose tissue is reported to contain monocyte-like pre-adipocytes, which may mature into macrophages, contributing to local inflammation. Dendritic cells (DC) can be derived from monocytes and initiate and regulate primary immune responses. We hypothesized, therefore, that adipose tissue may provide DC involved in local immune activity. To test this, we studied cells from human omental adipose tissue samples from 17 patients with benign gynecological disease. The hypothesis that adipose tissue DC are involved in inflammatory disease was tested by comparing these cells with those from 18 patients with Crohn's disease, where hypertrophy of adipose tissue suggests involvement in disease. A high proportion of the 1.33 +/- 0.12 x 10(5) CD45-positive cells/mg, obtained from control omenta, expressed CD11c, CD1a, and CD83; costimulatory molecules CD40, CD80, and CD86; and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) Class II but little CD14, CD16, or CD33. Omental cells showing morphological characteristics of DC were also observed. Metrizamide gradient-enriched DC from these populations were potent stimulators of primary proliferation of allogeneic T cells in mixed leukocyte reactions. Increased numbers of CD45+ cells from omentum of Crohn's patients (4.50+/-1.08 x 10(5) CD45+ cells/mg) contained higher percentages of CD11c+ and CD40+ cells (80.8+/-3.8% vs. 63.4+/-6, P=0.032; 77.9+/-4% vs. 58.8+/-6.5, P=0.029, respectively), but MHC Class II and stimulatory capacity were almost completely lost (P= <0.001), suggesting innate activation but lost capacity to stimulate adaptive immune responses. Granulocytes were also present amongst the omental cells from Crohn's patients. Results indicated that omentum may provide DC, which could "police" local infections and contribute to and/or reflect local inflammatory activity.

Interleukin-4 can induce interleukin-4 production in dendritic cells.

The presence of interleukin-4 (IL-4) during the generation of dendritic cells (DC) from precursor cells results in measurable increases of IL-12 in supernatants but IL-4 secretion has not been reported. However, DC have IL-4 receptors and are able to make IL-4. We therefore sought evidence for autocrine effects of IL-4 on DC. IL-4 gene expression was low in DC generated from bone-marrow stem cells in the presence of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor but was up-regulated by exposure of the developing DC to IL-4. Exposure to IL-4 also induced intracellular IL-4 production in DC. The intracellular IL-4 induced in the presence of IL-4 was increased following further DC maturation with tumour necrosis factor-alpha. By contrast, in supernatants of DC, IL-4 was rarely detected and only at late culture periods. However, after exposure of DC to IL-4, cell-bound IL-4 was detected transiently, which suggested binding and internalization of the cytokine. Binding via IL-4 receptor-alpha was indicated from phosphorylation of the signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) protein 6, which is known to mediate IL-4 function. Cytokine persisting within the supernatants of the cells may therefore be unrepresentative of the actual production and function of IL-4 in the cells; IL-4 may be produced in DC in response to exposure to IL-4 but may then be lost from the supernatants during cell binding and activation of the cells.

Developing dendritic cells become 'lacy' cells packed with fat and glycogen.

On maturation, dendritic cells (DCs) become highly active cells equipped for antigen uptake, migration and clustering and activation of T cells. We therefore asked whether DCs acquire fat and glycogen stores as they mature. DCs were generated from mouse bone marrow stem cells by culturing with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) for 7-8 days. Stimulation of the DCs with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for the last 24 hr of culture, or exposure to 1-15 ng/ml of interleukin (IL)-4 during development, resulted in production of DCs not only with an increased ability to stimulate T cells but also with an increasingly lacy appearance on transmission electron microscopy, with multiple unstained areas in the cytoplasm. This changed morphology was associated with the presence of increasing amounts of fat and glycogen, identified by Sudan Black and periodic acid leukofushin/Schiff (PAS) staining, respectively. Lacy DCs up-regulated type 1 and type 2 scavenger receptors, providing possible mechanisms contributing to these changes. Lacy DCs were found occasionally amongst freshly isolated splenic and lymph node DCs. DCs can be isolated from human adipose tissue, and we tested whether lacy DCs acquiring fat and glycogen were present in mouse omentum. CD45+ cells migrating from the omentum expressed specific DC markers CD11c and 33D1, costimulatory molecules and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II, and most showed darkly staining fat inclusions. Thus, during development, DCs can acquire large amounts of fat and glycogen, accumulation of which is promoted by antigen exposure and modulated by the cytokine milieu and location, and which may act as a link between energy stores and immune function.

IL-10-producing B220+CD11c- APC in mouse spleen.

APC acting at the early stages of an immune response can shape the nature of that response. Such APC will include dendritic cells (DCs) but may also include populations of B cells such as marginal zone B cells in the spleen. In this study, we analyze APC populations in mouse spleen and compare the phenotype and function of B220(+)CD11c(-) populations with those of CD11c(+) spleen DC subsets. Low-density B220(+) cells had morphology similar to DCs and, like DCs, they could stimulate naive T cells, and expressed high levels of MHC and costimulatory molecules. However, the majority of the B220(+) cells appeared to be of B cell lineage as demonstrated by coexpression of CD19 and surface Ig, and by their absence from RAG-2(-/-) mice. The phenotype of these DC-like B cells was consistent with that of B cells in the marginal zone of the spleen. On bacterial stimulation, they preferentially produced IL-10 in contrast to the DCs, which produced IL-12. Conventional B cells did not produce IL-10. The DC-like B cells could be induced to express low levels of the DC marker CD11c with maturational stimuli. A minority of the B220(+)CD11c(-) low-density cells did not express CD19 and surface Ig and may be a DC subset; this population also produced IL-10 on bacterial stimulation. B220(+) APC in mouse spleen that stimulate naive T cells and preferentially produce IL-10 may be involved in activating regulatory immune responses.

Dendritic cells, antigen distribution and the initiation of primary immune responses to self and non-self antigens.

Immunity or tolerance are determined through the bone marrow-derived, antigen-presenting cells, dendritic cells (DC). Stimulation of lymphocytes by different types of DC, DC at different stages of maturity and DC producing and responding to different growth factors modulate immune responses. Innate receptors for foreign or self antigens provide scope in DC for discrimination between different antigenic stimuli. DC also transfer processed antigens to other DC. We propose that DC do not stimulate responses to antigens in their own environment but only to antigens acquired from other DC, providing a mechanism for discriminating between environmental and non-environmental antigens.