Extracellular acidosis triggers the maturation of human dendritic cells and the production of IL-12

Although the development of an acidic tissue environment or acidosis is a hallmark of inflammatory processes, few studies analyze the effect of extracellular pH on immune cells. We have previously shown that exposure of murine dendritic cells (DCs) to pH 6.5 stimulates macropinocytosis and cross-presentation of extracellular Ags by MHC class I molecules. We report that the transient exposure of human DCs to pH 6.5 markedly increases the expression of HLA-DR, CD40, CD80, CD86, CD83, and CCR7 and improves the T cell priming ability of DCs. Incubation of DCs at pH 6.5 results in the activation of the PI3K/Akt and the MAPK pathways. Using specific inhibitors, we show that the maturation of DCs induced by acidosis was strictly dependent on the activation of p38 MAPK. DC exposure to pH 6.5 also induces a dramatic increase in their production of IL-12, stimulating the synthesis of IFN-gamma, but not IL-4, by Ag-specific CD4(+) T cells. Interestingly, we find that suboptimal doses of LPS abrogated the ability of pH 6.5 to induce DC maturation, suggesting a cross-talk between the activation pathways triggered by LPS and extracellular protons in DCs. We conclude that extracellular acidosis in peripheral tissues may contribute to the initiation of adaptive immune responses by DCs, favoring the development of Th1 immunity.     

Extracellular ATP induces a distorted maturation of dendritic cells and inhibits their capacity to initiate Th1 responses

Dendritic cells (DCs) express functional purinergic receptors, but the effects of purine nucleotides on DC functions have been marginally investigated. In this study, we report on the ability of micromolar concentrations of ATP to affect the maturation and Ag-presenting function of monocyte-derived DCs in vitro. Chronic stimulation (24 h) of DCs with low, noncytotoxic ATP doses increased membrane expression of CD54, CD80, CD86, and CD83, slightly reduced the endocytic activity of DCs, and augmented their capacity to promote proliferation of allogeneic naive T lymphocytes. Moreover, ATP enhanced LPS- and soluble CD40 ligand-induced CD54, CD86, and CD83 expression. On the other hand, ATP markedly and dose-dependently inhibited LPS- and soluble CD40 ligand-dependent production of IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-12, whereas IL-1 receptor antagonist and IL-10 production was not affected. As a result, T cell lines generated from allogeneic naive CD45RA(+) T cells primed with DCs matured in the presence of ATP produced lower amounts of IFN-gamma and higher levels of IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10 compared with T cell lines obtained with LPS-stimulated DCs. ATP inhibition of TNF-alpha and IL-12 production by mature DCs was not mediated by PGs or elevation of intracellular cAMP and did not require ATP degradation. The inability of UTP and the similar potency of ADP to reproduce ATP effects indicated that ATP could function through the P2X receptor family. These results suggest that extracellular ATP may serve as an important regulatory signal to dampen IL-12 production by DCs and thus prevent exaggerated and harmful immune responses.     

Phosphatidylserine regulates the maturation of human dendritic cells

Phosphatidylserine (PS), which is exposed on the surface of apoptotic cells, has been implicated in immune regulation. However, the effects of PS on the maturation and function of dendritic cells (DCs), which play a central role in both immune activation and regulation, have not been described. Large unilamellar liposomes containing PS or phosphatidylcholine were used to model the plasma membrane phospholipid composition of apoptotic and live cells, respectively. PS liposomes inhibited the up-regulation of HLA-ABC, HLA-DR, CD80, CD86, CD40, and CD83, as well as the production of IL-12p70 by human DCs in response to LPS. PS did not affect DC viability directly but predisposed DCs to apoptosis in response to LPS. DCs exposed to PS had diminished capacity to stimulate allogeneic T cell proliferation and to activate IFN-gamma-producing CD4(+) T cells. Exogenous IL-12 restored IFN-gamma production by CD4(+) T cells. Furthermore, activated CTLs proliferated poorly to cognate Ag presented by DCs exposed to PS. Our findings suggest that PS exposure provides a sufficient signal to inhibit DC maturation and to modulate adaptive immune responses.     

Vasoactive intestinal peptide synergizes with TNF-alpha in inducing human dendritic cell maturation.

We investigated the effects of different neuropeptides on human dendritic cells (DC) maturation. Immature DC, derived from monocytes cultured for 6 days with IL-4 plus GM-CSF, have been exposed to somatostatin, substance P, or vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP). Among these neuropeptides, only VIP induces the production of bioactive IL-12 and the neoexpression of CD83 on a fraction of the DC population, with an effect significant at 100 and 10 nM, respectively. These effects of VIP are dose-dependent, unaffected by polymixin B, and partly prevented by a VIP receptor antagonist. Although the effects of VIP alone remain modest, it synergizes with TNF-alpha to induce DC maturation. In the presence of a suboptimal concentration of TNF-alpha, which has no detectable effect on DC by itself, VIP induces the production of high levels of bioactive IL-12, the neoexpression of CD83 on almost all the DC population (with an effect significant at 10 and 0.1 nM, respectively), and the up-regulation of various adhesion and costimulatory molecule expression. Moreover, DC exposed to VIP plus a suboptimal concentration of TNF-alpha are as potent as mature DC obtained by treatment with an optimal concentration of TNF-alpha in stimulating allogenic T cell proliferation. Our data suggest that, in inflammatory sites, VIP may cooperate with proinflammatory mediators, such as TNF-alpha, to induce DC maturation.     

Migration and maturation of human colonic dendritic cells

Dendritic cells (DC) in the colon may regulate intestinal immunity but remain poorly characterized. In this study a CD11c(+)HLA-DR(+)lin(-) (CD3(-)CD14(-)CD16(-)CD19(-)CD34(-)) population has been identified by flow cytometry in cells obtained by rapid collagenase digestion of human colonic and rectal biopsies. These day 0 (d0) CD11c(+)HLA-DR(+)lin(-) cells comprised approximately 0.6% of the mononuclear cells obtained from the lamina propria, were endocytically active, and had the phenotype of immature DC; they were CD40(+) and expressed low levels of CD83 and CD86, but little or no CD80 or CD25. Similar d0 DC populations were isolated from the colonic mucosa of healthy controls and from both inflamed and noninflamed tissue from patients with Crohn's disease. The lamina propria also contained a population of cells capable of migrating out of biopsies during an overnight culture and differentiating into mature DC with lower levels of endocytic activity and high cell surface expression of CD40, CD80, CD86, CD83, and CD25. This mature DC population was a potent stimulator of an allogeneic mixed leukocyte (MLR). Overnight culture of cells isolated by enzymatic digestion on d0 yielded DC with a phenotype intermediate between that of the d0 cells and that of the cells migrating out overnight. Overnight culture of colonic cells in which DC and HLA-DR(+)lin(+) cells were differentially labeled with FITC-dextran suggested that some of the maturing DC might differentiate from HLA-DR(+)lin(+) progenitors. This study presents the first analysis of the phenotype, maturational status, and migratory activity of human gut DC.     

Extracellular ATP triggers and maintains asthmatic airway inflammation by activating dendritic cells

Extracellular ATP serves as a danger signal to alert the immune system of tissue damage by acting on P2X or P2Y receptors. Here we show that allergen challenge causes acute accumulation of ATP in the airways of asthmatic subjects and mice with experimentally induced asthma. All the cardinal features of asthma, including eosinophilic airway inflammation, Th2 cytokine production and bronchial hyper-reactivity, were abrogated when lung ATP levels were locally neutralized using apyrase or when mice were treated with broad-spectrum P2-receptor antagonists. In addition to these effects of ATP in established inflammation, Th2 sensitization to inhaled antigen was enhanced by endogenous or exogenous ATP. The adjuvant effects of ATP were due to the recruitment and activation of lung myeloid dendritic cells that induced Th2 responses in the mediastinal nodes. Together these data show that purinergic signaling has a key role in allergen-driven lung inflammation that is likely to be amenable to therapeutic intervention.     

Extracellular ATP induces cell death in human intestinal epithelial cells

Background

Extracellular ATP is an endogenous signaling molecule released by various cell types and under different stimuli. High concentrations of ATP released into the extracellular medium activate the P2X7 receptor in most inflammatory conditions. Here, we seek to characterize the effects of ATP in human intestinal epithelial cells and to evaluate morphological changes in these cells in the presence of ATP.

Methods

We treated human intestinal epithelial cells with ATP and evaluated the effects of this nucleotide by scanning and transmission electron microscopy analysis and calcium measurements. We used flow cytometry to evaluate apoptosis. We collected human intestinal explants for immunohistochemistry, apoptosis by the TUNEL approach and caspase-3 activity using flow cytometry analyses. We also evaluated the ROS production by flow cytometry and NO secretion by the Griess technique.

Results

ATP treatment induced changes characteristic of cell death by apoptosis and autophagy but not necrosis in the HCT8 cell line. ATP induced apoptosis in human intestinal explants that showed TUNEL-positive cells in the epithelium and in the lamina propria. The explants exhibited a significant increase of caspase-3 activity when the colonic epithelial cells were incubated with IFN-gamma followed by ATP as compared to control cells. In addition, it was found that antioxidants were able to inhibit both the ROS production and the apoptosis induced by ATP in epithelial cells.

General significance

The activation of P2X7 receptors by ATP induces apoptosis and autophagy in human epithelial cells, possibly via ROS production, and this effect might have implications for gut inflammatory conditions.     

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells synergize with myeloid dendritic cells in the induction of antigen-specific antitumor immune responses

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC) are capable of producing high levels of type I IFNs upon viral stimulation, and play a central role in modulating innate and adaptive immunity against viral infections. Whereas many studies have assessed myeloid dendritic cells (mDC) in the induction of antitumor immune responses, the role of pDC in antitumor immunity has not been addressed. Moreover, the interaction of pDC with other dendritic cell subsets has not been evaluated. In this study, we analyzed the capacity of pDC in stimulating an Ag-specific T cell response. Immunization of mice with Ag-pulsed, activated pDC significantly augmented Ag-specific CD8(+) CTL responses, and protected mice from a subsequent tumor challenge. Immunization with a mixture of activated pDC plus mDC resulted in increased levels of Ag-specific CD8(+) T cells and an enhanced antitumor response compared with immunization with either dendritic cell subset alone. Synergy between pDC and mDC in their ability to activate T cells was dependent on MHC I expression by mDC, but not pDC, suggesting that pDC enhanced the ability of mDC to present Ag to T cells. Our results demonstrate that pDC and mDC can interact synergistically to induce an Ag-specific antitumor immune response in vivo.     

Intermediate maturation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis LAM-activated human dendritic cells

Contrasting observations raise the question of the role of mycobacterial derived products as compared with the whole bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis on maturation and function of human dendritic cells (DCs). DC-SIGN has been identified as the key DC receptor for M. tuberculosis through its interaction with the mannosylated lipoarabinomannan (ManLAM). Although ManLAM is a major mycobacterial component released from infected antigen-presenting cells, there is no formal evidence yet for an effect of ManLAM per se on DC maturation and function. DCs activated with purified ManLAM displayed an intermediate maturation phenotype as compared with lipopolysaccharide fully matured DCs with reduced expression of MHC class I and class II molecules, CD83 and CD86 and of the chemokine receptor CCR7. They were sensitive to autologous natural killer (NK) lysis, thus behaving like immature DCs. However, ManLAM-activated DCs lost phagocytic activity and triggered priming of naive T-cells, confirming their intermediate maturation. Partial maturation of ManLAM-activated DCs was overcome by triggering the CD40/CD40L pathway as a second signal, which completed maturation phenotypically and abolished autologous NK lysis susceptibility. Altogether, these data provide evidence that ManLAM may induce a partial maturation phenotype on non-infected bystander DCs during infection suggesting that ManLAM released from infected cells might impair adaptive immune response towards M. tuberculosis.     

Extracellular ATP and bradykinin increase cGMP in vascular endothelial cells via activation of PKC

Vasodilation by agents such as bradykinin and ATP is dependenton nitric oxide, the endothelium-dependent relaxing factor (EDRF). Therelease of EDRF results in elevation of cGMP in endothelial and smoothmuscle cells (9). The signaling pathway that leads to increases in cGMPis not completely understood. The role of protein kinase C (PKC) in theelevation of cGMP induced by ATP and bradykinin was studied in culturedporcine aortic endothelial cells, by measuring PKC phosphorylation of asubstrate and by measuring cGMP levels by radioimmunoassay.Extracellular ATP and bradykinin simultaneously elevated cGMP levelsand PKC activity. The PKC inhibitors staurosporine, calphostin C, andCremophor EL (T. Tamaoki and H. Nakano.Bio/Technology 8: 732-735, 1990; F. K. Zhao, L. F. Chuang, M. Israel, and R. Y. Chuang. Biochem. Biophys.Res. Commun. 159: 1359-1367, 1989) prevented theelevation of cGMP elicited by ATP and reduced that produced bybradykinin. Cremophor did not affect the elevation of cGMP bynitroprusside, an agent that directly increases guanylate cyclaseactivity (9). The PKC activator phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, butnot a phorbol ester analog inactive on PKC, also elevated cGMP levels.These results suggest that EDRF agonists elevate cGMP in endothelial cells via PKC stimulation.

     

Bacterial CpG-DNA triggers activation and maturation of human CD11c-, CD123+ dendritic cells

Human plasmacytoid precursor dendritic cells (ppDC) are a major source of type I IFN upon exposure to virus and bacteria, yet the stimulus causing their maturation into DCs is unknown. After PBMC activation with immunostimulatory bacterial DNA sequences (CpG-DNA) we found that ppDC are the primary source of IFN-alpha. In fact, either CpG-DNA or dsRNA (poly(I:C)) induced IFN-alpha from purified ppDC. Surprisingly, only CpG-DNA triggered purified ppDC survival, maturation, and production of TNF, GM-CSF, IL-6, and IL-8, but not IL-10 or IL-12. Known DC activators such as CD40 ligation triggered ppDC maturation, but only IL-8 production, while bacterial LPS was negative for all activation criteria. An additional finding was that only CpG-DNA could counteract IL-4-induced apoptosis in ppDC. Therefore, CpG-DNA represents a pathogen-associated molecular pattern for ppDC. In contrast to these finding, CpG-DNA, like LPS, caused TNF, IL-6, and IL-12 release from PBMC and purified monocytes; however, differentiation of monocytes into DCs with GM-CSF and IL-4 unexpectedly resulted in refractoriness to CpG-DNA, but not LPS. Taken together, these results suggest that within a DC subset a multiplicity of responses can be generated by distinct environmental stimuli and that responses to a given stimulus may be dissimilar between DC subsets.     

Development and maturation of thymic dendritic cells during human ontogeny

Thymic dendritic cells (TDC) are dendritic cells situated mainly in the cortico-medullary zone and in the medullary region of the thymus. However, the phenotype of TDC during ontogeny is poorly documented. The aim of this study has been to investigate the development and maturation of TDC during human ontogeny. Immunohistochemical analyses and immunoelectron-microscopic investigation of 21 human thymus specimens have been performed to detect the subtypes of TDC by using various DC-related and DC-development-related markers. TDC express a Langerhans-cell-like phenotype during human ontogeny. Cells expressing thymic stromal lymphopoietin receptor have been observed in Hassal’s corpuscles of the thymus. Granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is also expressed in thymic epithelial cells (TEC) localized in Hassal’s corpuscles. During human ontogeny, GM-CSF is produced by TEC of Hassal’s corpuscles and might play a key role in the differentiation of TDC having Langerhans-cell-like phenotypes.     

Galectin-9 induces maturation of human monocyte-derived dendritic cells

Maturation of dendritic cells (DCs) is critical for initiation of immune responses and is regulated by various stimulatory signals. We assessed the role of galectin (Gal)-9 in DC maturation. Culture of immature DCs with exogenous Gal-9 markedly increased the surface expression of CD40, CD54, CD80, CD83, CD86, and HLA-DR in a dose-dependent manner, although Gal-9 had no or little effect on differentiation of human monocytes into immature DCs. Gal-9-treated DCs secreted IL-12 but not IL-10, and they elicited the production of Th1 cytokines (IFN-gamma and IL-2) but not that of the Th2 cytokines (IL-4 and IL-5) by allogeneic CD4+ T cells. These effects of Gal-9 on immature DCs were not essentially dependent on its lectin properties, given that they were inhibited only slightly by lactose. We further found that a Gal-9 mutant that lacks beta-galactoside binding activity reproduced the above activities and that an anti-Gal-9 mAb suppressed them. Gal-9 induced phosphorylation of the MAPK p38 and ERK1/2 in DCs, and an inhibitor of p38 signaling, but not inhibitors of signaling by either ERK1/2 or PI3K, blocked Gal-9-induced up-regulation of costimulatory molecule expression and IL-12 production. These findings suggest that Gal-9 plays a role not only in innate immunity but also in acquired immunity by inducing DC maturation and promoting Th1 immune responses.     

Extracellular ATP attenuates ischemia-induced caspase-3 cleavage in human endothelial cells

BackgroundApoptotic death of endothelial cells (EC) plays a crucial role for the development of ischemic injury. In the present study we investigated the impact of extracellular Adenosine-5′-triphosphate (ATP), either released from cells or exogenously added, on ischemia-induced apoptosis of human EC.Methods and resultsTo simulate ischemic conditions, cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were exposed to 2 h of hypoxia (Po₂ < 4 mm Hg) in serum-free medium. Ischemia led to a 1.7-fold (+/?0.4; P < 0.05) increase in EC apoptosis compared to normoxic controls as assessed by immunoblotting and immunocytochemistry of cleaved caspase-3. Ischemia-induced apoptosis was accompanied by a 2.3-fold (+/?0.5; P < 0.05) increase of extracellular ATP detected by using a luciferin/luciferase assay. Addition of the soluble ecto-ATPase apyrase, enhancing ATP degradation, increased ischemia-induced caspase-3 cleavage. Correspondingly, inhibition of ATP breakdown by addition of the selective ecto-ATPase inhibitor ARL67156 significantly reduced ischemia-induced apoptosis. Extracellular ATP acts on membrane-bound P2Y- and P2X-receptors to induce intracellular signaling. Both, ATP and the P2Y-receptor agonist UTP significantly reduced ischemia-induced apoptosis in an equipotent manner, whereas the P2X-receptor agonist αβ-me-ATP did not alter caspase-3 cleavage. The anti-apoptotic effects of ARL67156 and UTP were abrogated when P2-receptors were blocked by Suramin or PPADS. Furthermore, extracellular ATP led to an activation of MEK/ERK- and PI3K/Akt-signaling pathways. Accordingly, inhibition of MEK/ERK-signaling by UO126 or inhibition of PI3K/Akt-signaling by LY294002 abolished the anti-apoptotic effects of ATP.ConclusionThe data of the present study indicate that extracellular ATP counteracts ischemia-induced apoptosis of human EC by activating a P2Y-receptor-mediated signaling reducing caspase-3 cleavage.     

TGF-beta 1 prevents the noncognate maturation of human dendritic Langerhans cells

TGF-beta 1 is critical for differentiation of epithelial-associated dendritic Langerhans cells (LC). In accordance with the characteristics of in vivo LC, we show that LC obtained from human monocytes in vitro in the presence of TGF-beta 1 1) express almost exclusively intracellular class II Ags, low CD80, and no CD83 and CD86 Ags and 2) down-regulate TNF-RI (p55) and do not produce IL-10 after stimulation, in contrast to dermal dendritic cells and monocyte-derived dendritic cells. Surprisingly, while LC exhibit E-cadherin down-regulation upon exposure to TNF-alpha and IL-1, TGF-beta 1 prevents the final LC maturation in response to TNF-alpha, IL-1, and LPS with respect to Class II CD80, CD86, and CD83 Ag expression, loss of FITC-dextran uptake, production of IL-12, and Ag presentation. In sharp contrast, CD40 ligand cognate signal induces full maturation of LC and is not inhibited by TGF-beta 1. The presence of emigrated immature LCs in human reactive skin-draining lymph nodes provides in vivo evidence that LC migration and final maturation may be differentially regulated. Therefore, due to the effects of TGF-beta 1, inflammatory stimuli may not be sufficient to induce full maturation of LC, thus avoiding potentially harmful immune responses. We conclude that TGF-beta 1 appears to be responsible for both the acquisition of LC phenotype, cytokine production pattern, and prevention of noncognate maturation.     

Gliadin fragments induce phenotypic and functional maturation of human dendritic cells

Celiac disease is a chronic inflammatory disease developing in genetically predisposed individuals. Ingested gliadin, the triggering agent of the disease, can cross the epithelial barrier and elicit a harmful T cell-mediated immune response. Dendritic cells (DC) are supposed to play a pivotal role in shaping the immune response. The direction of the immune response toward immunity or tolerance depends on the stage of maturation and the functional properties of the DC. DC become fully functional APC upon maturation by various stimuli. We investigated the effect of a peptic digest of gliadin on the maturation of human monocyte-derived DC. Stimulation of cells with gliadin, in contrast with other tested food proteins, led to enhanced expression of maturation markers (CD80, CD83, CD86, and HLA-DR molecules) and increased secretion of chemokines and cytokines (mainly of IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-alpha, growth-related oncogene, MCP-1, MCP-2, macrophage-derived chemokine, and RANTES). Maturation was accompanied by a greater capacity to stimulate proliferation of allogeneic T cells and significantly reduced endocytic activity. Furthermore, gliadin-induced phosphorylation of members of three MAPK families (ERK1/2, JNK, and p38 MAPK) was demonstrated. The largest contribution of p38 MAPK was confirmed using its inhibitor SB203580, which markedly down-regulated the gliadin-triggered up-regulation of maturation markers and cytokine production. Gliadin treatment also resulted in increased NF-kappaB/DNA binding activity of p50 and p65 subunits. Taken together, gliadin peptides can contribute to overcoming the stage of unresponsiveness of immature DC by inducing phenotypic and functional DC maturation, resulting in more efficient processing and presentation of gliadin peptides to specific T lymphocytes.     

Two wheat decapeptides prevent gliadin-dependent maturation of human dendritic cells

Celiac disease (CD) is a small intestinal enteropathy, triggered in susceptible individuals by the ingestion of dietary gluten.     

Extracellular branched-chain amino acids, especially valine, regulate maturation and function of monocyte-derived dendritic cells

The functions of dendritic cells (DCs) are impaired in patients with liver cirrhosis. It is well-known that cirrhotic patients show decreased levels of plasma branched-chain amino acids (BCAA). Although amino acids are associated with maintaining the cell structure and function in many organs, limited data are available regarding the role of amino acids including BCAA in the immune system. We aimed to investigate the roles of BCAA in the function of human monocyte-derived DCs (MoDC). CD14-positive monocytes (CD14 (+)) were isolated from PBMC from healthy volunteers and hepatitis C virus (HCV) cirrhotic patients. In medium deprived of BCAA or valine, monocytes were able to differentiate into immature, but not into mature, DCs and showed weak expression of CD83. The deprivation of leucine or isoleucine did not affect this process. The MoDC allostimulatory capacity was significantly decreased in medium deprived of BCAA or valine (p = 0.017, p = 0.012, Bonferroni's analysis, respectively). Annexin V(FITC)/propidium iodide staining showed that the DC yield and viability were not significantly different under any medium. Immunoblotting demonstrated that depletion of valine or leucine decreased phospho-S6 kinase expression. Valine increased dose-dependently the allostimulatory capacity and IL-12 production of MoDC from both healthy volunteers and HCV cirrhotic patients. An elevated extracellular concentration of valine could improve the DC function in cirrhotic patients. These data provide a rationale for nutrition therapy that could be beneficial to patients with cirrhosis.     

Extracellular ATP signaling and homeostasis in plant cells

Extracellular ATP (eATP) is now recognized as an important signaling agent in plant growth and defense response to environmental stimuli. eATP has dual functions in plant cell signaling, which is largely dependent on its concentration in the extracellular matrix (ECM). A lethal level of eATP (extremely low or high) causes cell death, whereas a moderate level of eATP benefits plant growth and development. Ecto-apyrases (Nucleoside Triphosphate-Diphosphohydrolase) help control the eATP concentrations in the ECM, and thus contributing to the mediation of plant growth and defense response upon environmental stress. In this review, we summarize eATP signaling in plants and highlight the correlation between eATP homeostasis control and programmed cell death.     

Mycobacterium leprae inhibits dendritic cell activation and maturation

Leprosy presents with a clinical spectrum of skin lesions that span from strong Th1-mediated cellular immunity and control of bacillary growth at one pole to poor Ag-specific T cell immunity with extensive bacillary load and Th2 cytokine-expressing lesions at the other. To understand how the immune response to Mycobacterium leprae is regulated, human dendritic cells (DC), potent inducers of adaptive immune responses, exposed to M. leprae, Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), and Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) were studied for their ability to be activated and to prime T cell proliferation. In contrast with Mtb and BCG, M. leprae did not induce DC activation/maturation as measured by the expression of selected surface markers and proinflammatory cytokine production. In MLR, T cells did not proliferate in response to M. leprae-stimulated DC. Interestingly, M. leprae-exposed MLR cells secreted increased Th2 cytokines as well as similar Th1 cytokine levels as compared with Mtb- and BCG-exposed cells. Gene expression analysis revealed a reduction in levels of mRNA of DC activation and maturation markers following exposure to M. leprae. Our data suggest that M. leprae does not induce and probably suppresses in vitro DC maturation/activation, whereas Mtb and BCG are stimulatory.