Induced SHIP deficiency expands myeloid regulatory cells and abrogates graft-versus-host disease

Graft-vs-host disease (GVHD) is the leading cause of treatment-related death in allogeneic bone marrow (BM) transplantation. Immunosuppressive strategies to control GVHD are only partially effective and often lead to life-threatening infections. We previously showed that engraftment of MHC-mismatched BM is enhanced and GVHD abrogated in recipients homozygous for a germline SHIP mutation. In this study, we report the development of a genetic model in which SHIP deficiency can be induced in adult mice. Using this model, we show that the induction of SHIP deficiency in adult mice leads to a rapid and significant expansion of myeloid suppressor cells in peripheral lymphoid tissues. Consistent with expansion of myeloid suppressor cells, splenocytes and lymph node cells from adult mice with induced SHIP deficiency are significantly compromised in their ability to prime allogeneic T cell responses. These results demonstrate that SHIP regulates homeostatic signals for these immunoregulatory cells in adult physiology. Consistent with these findings, induction of SHIP deficiency before receiving a T cell-replete BM graft abrogates acute GVHD. These findings indicate strategies that target SHIP could increase the efficacy and utility of allogeneic BM transplantation, and thereby provide a curative therapy for a wide spectrum of human diseases.     

Induction of primary human CD8+ T lymphocyte responses in vitro using dendritic cells

The ability of two different human professional APCs, specifically macrophages (Mphi) and dendritic cells (DC), to stimulate primary responses in human CD8+ T lymphocytes was examined using both allogeneic and Ag-pulsed autologous APCs. CTL responses in CD8+ T lymphocytes isolated from HIV-uninfected donors were evaluated against six different HIV epitopes that are restricted by four different HLA alleles using autologous human PBMC-derived Mphi and DCs for primary stimulation. In a side-by-side experiment, immature DCs, but not Mphi, were able to prime a CTL response against the B14-restricted p24gag 298-306 epitope; mature DCs were also able to prime a response against this epitope. In addition, DCs were capable of priming CD8+ CTL responses against the B8-restricted p24gag 259-267 epitope. In contrast, Mphi were unable to prime strong CTL responses against other epitopes. Since the Ag-specific cytotoxic responses required subsequent rounds of restimulation before they could be detected, the ability of the allogeneic Mphi and DCs to directly prime CD8+ T lymphocyte responses without subsequent restimulation was examined. Similar to the aforementioned peptide-specific results, DCs were more efficient than Mphi in priming both allogeneic proliferative and cytotoxic responses in human CD8+ T lymphocytes. Collectively, these results promote an enhanced status for DCs in the primary stimulation of human CD8+ T lymphocytes.     

Selectively impaired CD8+ but not CD4+ T cell cycle arrest during priming as a consequence of dendritic cell interaction with plasmodium-infected red cells

Individuals living in malaria-endemic areas show generally low T cell responses to malaria Ags. In this study, we show murine dendritic cell (DC) interaction with parasitized erythrocytes (pRBC) arrested their maturation, resulting in impaired ability to stimulate naive, but not recall T cell responses in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, within the naive T cell population, pRBC-treated DC were selectively deficient in priming CD8(+) but not CD4(+) T cells. Indeed, DC that had taken up pRBC were shown for the first time to efficiently prime CD4(+) T cell responses to a known protective merozoite Ag, MSP4/5. In contrast, impaired priming resulted in decreases in both proliferation and cytokine production by CD8(+) T cells. Deficient priming was observed to both a model and a Plasmodium berghei-specific CD8(+) T cell epitope. The mechanisms underlying the inability of parasite-treated DC to prime CD8(+) T cells were explored. pRBC treatment of DC from wild-type C57BL/6, but not from IL-10 knockout animals, suppressed DC-mediated T cell priming across a Transwell, suggesting active IL-10-dependent suppression. CD8(+) T cells were arrested at the G(0) stage of the cell cycle after two cell divisions post-Ag stimulation. The proliferation arrest was partially reversible by the addition of IL-2 or IL-7 to responder cultures. These results suggest that in malaria-endemic areas, priming of CD8(+) T cell responses may be more difficult to induce via vaccination than the priming of CD4(+) T cells. Moreover, pathogens may selectively target the CD8(+) T cell arm of protective immunity for immune evasion.     

Glycoprotein 96 can chaperone both MHC class I- and class II-restricted epitopes for in vivo presentation, but selectively primes CD8+ T cell effector function

The ability of mature T lymphocytes to develop effector capacity after encounter with cognate Ag is generally dependent upon inflammatory signals associated with infection that induce dendritic cell activation/maturation. These inflammatory signals can derive directly from pathogens or can be expressed by host cells in response to infection. Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are a class of host-derived inflammatory mediators that perform the dual function of both chaperoning MHC class I-restricted epitopes into the cross-presentation pathway of DCs and inducing the activation/maturation of these DCs to allow priming of cognate CD8(+) T cell effector responses. Although the ability of HSPs to elicit effector CD8 cell responses has been well established, their potential to prime CD4 cell effector responses has been relatively unexplored. In the current study we compared the ability of the endoplasmic reticulum-resident HSP gp96 to prime CD4 vs CD8 cells using TCR transgenic adoptive transfer systems and soluble gp96-peptide complexes. As expected, gp96 facilitated the cross-presentation of a class I-restricted peptide and priming of effector function in cognate CD8 cells. Interestingly, gp96 also facilitated the in vivo presentation of a class II-restricted peptide; however, the resulting CD4 cell response did not involve the development of effector function. Taken together, these data suggest that gp96 is an inflammatory mediator that selectively primes CD8 cell effector function.     

A marked reduction in priming of cytotoxic CD8+ T cells mediated by stress-induced glucocorticoids involves multiple deficiencies in cross-presentation by dendritic cells

Protracted psychological stress elevates circulating glucocorticoids, which can suppress CD8(+) T cell-mediated immunity, but the mechanisms are incompletely understood. Dendritic cells (DCs), required for initiating CTL responses, are vulnerable to stress/corticosterone, which can contribute to diminished CTL responses. Cross-priming of CD8(+) T cells by DCs is required for initiating CTL responses against many intracellular pathogens that do not infect DCs. We examined the effects of stress/corticosterone on MHC class I (MHC I) cross-presentation and priming and show that stress/corticosterone-exposed DCs have a reduced ability to cross-present OVA and activate MHC I-OVA(257-264)-specific T cells. Using a murine model of psychological stress and OVA-loaded β(2)-microglobulin knockout "donor" cells that cannot present Ag, DCs from stressed mice induced markedly less Ag-specific CTL proliferation in a glucocorticoid receptor-dependent manner, and endogenous in vivo T cell cytolytic activity generated by cross-presented Ag was greatly diminished. These deficits in cross-presentation/priming were not due to altered Ag donation, Ag uptake (phagocytosis, receptor-mediated endocytosis, or fluid-phase uptake), or costimulatory molecule expression by DCs. However, proteasome activity in corticosterone-treated DCs or splenic DCs from stressed mice was partially suppressed, which limits formation of antigenic peptide-MHC I complexes. In addition, the lymphoid tissue-resident CD11b(-)CD24(+)CD8α(+) DC subset, which carries out cross-presentation/priming, was preferentially depleted in stressed mice. At the same time, CD11b(-)CD24(+)CD8α(-) DC precursors were increased, suggesting a block in development of CD8α(+) DCs. Therefore, glucocorticoid-induced changes in both the cellular composition of the immune system and intracellular protein degradation contribute to impaired CTL priming in stressed mice.     

Mechanisms of Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases in Modulating T Cell Responses in Murine Graft-versus-Host Disease

Graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) is a key contributor to the morbidity and mortality after allogeneic hematopoetic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Regulatory Foxp3⁺ CD4⁺ T cells (T_reg) suppress conventional T cell activation and can control GvHD. In our previous work, we demonstrate that a basic mechanism of T_reg mediated suppression occurs by the transfer of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) to responder cells. Whether this mechanism is relevant for T_reg mediated suppression of GvHD is currently unknown. To address this question, bone marrow and T cells from C57BL/6 mice were transferred into lethally irradiated BALB/c recipients, and the course of GvHD and survival were monitored. Transplanted recipients developed severe GvHD that was strongly ameliorated by the transfer of donor T_reg cells. Towards the underlying mechanisms, in vitro studies revealed that T_reg communicated with DCs via gap junctions, resulting in functional inactivation of DC by a metabolic pathway involving cAMP that is modulated by the phosphodiesterase (PDE) 4 inhibitor rolipram. PDE2 or PDE3 inhibitors as well as rolipram suppressed allogeneic T cell activation, indirectly by enhancing T_reg mediated suppression of DC activation and directly by inhibiting responder T cell proliferation. In line with this, we observed a cooperative suppression of GvHD upon T_reg transfer and additional rolipram treatment. In conclusion, we propose that an important pathway of T_reg mediated control of GvHD is based on a cAMP dependent mechanism. These data provide the basis for future concepts to manipulate allogeneic T cell responses to prevent GvHD.     

Differentiation of monocytic cell clones into CD8 alpha+ dendritic cells (DC) suggests that monocytes can be direct precursors for both CD8 alpha+ and CD8 alpha- DC in the mouse

Dendritic cells (DC) are the professional APCs that initiate T cell immune responses. DC can develop from both myeloid and lymphoid progenitors. In the mouse, the CD8alpha(+) DC had been designated as "lymphoid" DC, and CD8alpha(-) DC as "myeloid" DC until recently when it was demonstrated that common myeloid progenitors can also give rise to CD8alpha(+) DC in bone marrow chimera mice. However, it is still not clear which committed myeloid lineages differentiate into CD8alpha(+) DC. Because monocytes can differentiate into DC in vivo, the simplest hypothesis is that the CD8alpha(+) DC can be derived from the monocyte/macrophage. In this study we show that cell clones, isolated from CD8alpha(+) DC lymphoma but with a monocytic phenotype (CD11c(low/-)D11b(high)CD8alpha(-)I-A(low)), can redifferentiate into CD8alpha(+) DC either when stimulated by LPS and CD40L or when they migrate into the lymphoid organs. Maturation of DC in vivo correlated with strong priming of allogeneic T cells. Moreover, the monocytes from cultured splenocytes or peritoneal exudates macrophages of wild-type mice are also capable of differentiating into CD11c(+)CD8alpha(+) DC after their migration into the draining lymph nodes. Our results suggest that monocytes can be direct precursors for CD11c(+)CD8alpha(+) DC in vivo. In addition, the monocyte clones described in this study may be valuable for studying the differentiation and function of CD8alpha(+) DC that mediate cross-presentation of Ag to CD8 T cells specific for cell-associate Ags.     

Type I IFN-induced, NKT cell-mediated negative control of CD8 T cell priming by dendritic cells

We investigated the negative effect of type I IFN (IFN-I) on the priming of specific CD8 T cell immunity. Priming of murine CD8 T cells is down-modulated if Ag is codelivered with IFN-I-inducing polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (pI/C) that induces (NK cell- and T/B cell-independent) acute changes in the composition and surface phenotype of dendritic cells (DC). In wild-type but not IFN-I receptor-deficient mice, pI/C reduces the plasmacytoid DC but expands the CD8(+) conventional DC (cDC) population and up-regulates surface expression of activation-associated (CD69, BST2), MHC (class I/II), costimulator (CD40, CD80/CD86), and coinhibitor (PD-L1/L2) molecules by cDC. Naive T cells are efficiently primed in vitro by IFN-I-stimulated CD8 cDC (the key APC involved in CD8 T cell priming) although these DC produced less IL-12 p40 and IL-6. pI/C (IFN-I)-mediated down modulation of CD8 T cell priming in vivo was not observed in NKT cell-deficient CD1d(-/-) mice. CD8 cDC from pI/C-treated mice inefficiently stimulated IFN-gamma, IL-4, and IL-2 responses of NKT cells. In vitro, CD8 cDC that had activated NKT cells in the presence of IFN-I primed CD8 T cells that produced less IFN-gamma but more IL-10. The described immunosuppressive effect of IFN-I thus involves an NKT cell-mediated change in the phenotype of CD8 cDC that favors priming of IL-10-producing CD8 T cells. In the presence of IFN-I, NKT cells hence impair the competence of CD8 cDC to prime proinflammatory CD8 T cell responses.     

Priming of CTLs by lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus depends on dendritic cells

Appropriate activation of naive CD8(+) T cells depends on the coordinated interaction of these cells with professional APC that present antigenic peptides in the context of MHC class I molecules. It is accepted that dendritic cells (DC) are efficient in activating naive T cells and are unique in their capacity to prime CD8(+) T cell responses against exogenous cell-associated Ags. Nevertheless, it is unclear whether epitopes, derived from endogenously synthesized proteins and presented by MHC class I molecules on the surface of other APC including B cells and macrophages, can activate naive CD8(+) T cells in vivo. By infecting transgenic CD11c-DTR/GFP mice that allow conditional depletion of DC with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), which infects all types of APC and elicits a vigorous CTL response, we unambiguously show that priming of LCMV-specific CD8(+) T cells is crucially dependent on DC, despite ample presence of LCMV-infected macrophages and B cells in secondary lymphoid organs.     

Regulation of the effector stages of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis via neuroantigen-specific tolerance induction. II. Fine specificity of effector T cell inhibition.

Ag-specific tolerance induced by the i.v. administration of splenocytes coupled with mouse spinal cord homogenate, containing a mixture of myelin Ag, dramatically inhibits development and expression of clinical and histologic signs of both active and adoptive forms of relapsing experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (R-EAE) in the SJL/J host. Here we examined the dose-dependency, route of tolerogen administration, and fine neuroantigen specificity of inhibition of adoptive R-EAE. Expression of clinical R-EAE induced by a polyclonal population of bovine myelin basic protein (MBP)-specific effector T cells was dramatically inhibited in a dose-dependent manner following the i.v., but not s.c. or i.p., injection of MBP-coupled splenocytes. The exquisite Ag specificity of the inhibition was evident by the observation that splenocytes coupled with intact bovine MBP or species variants of MBP homologous with bovine MBP within the major encephalitogenic region (amino acids 84-104), but not with proteolipid protein or mouse kidney homogenate, were able to suppress disease expression. Splenocytes coupled with the MBP84-104 peptide, containing a nested set of the major SJL/J encephalitogenic epitopes, completely inhibited peptide-specific T cell responses, but only partially inhibited the expression of disease transferred by T cells specific for intact MBP, suggesting the participation of T cell responses specific for additional MBP determinants in disease pathogenesis. However, splenocytes coupled with previously identified minor SJL/J encephalitogenic epitopes (MBP91-104 or MBP17-27), or with the Lewis rat major encephalitogenic epitope (MBP68-86), did not suppress disease expression. Collectively, the results demonstrate that MBP84-104-specific T cells and T cells specific for an as yet unidentified MBP epitope(s) contribute to the pathology of R-EAE. In addition, the results demonstrate that peptide-specific tolerance induction appears to have potential for the treatment of T cell-mediated inflammatory diseases.     

A recombinant malaria protein that can induce Th1 and CD8+ T cell responses without antibody formation.

Inbred strains of mice were immunized with p190-3, a 38-kDa recombinant protein derived from p190, a major merozoite surface Ag of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Ag-specific proliferative T cell responses were obtained in H-2b, H-2d, and H-2k mouse strains. Surprisingly, mice of the H-2b haplotype (e.g., C57BL/6) did not give a measurable antibody response to the recombinant protein administered in Freund's adjuvant, but CD8+/CD4- as well as CD4+/CD8- T cells specific for p190-3 could be obtained after in vivo priming and in vitro selection with Ag. Distinct epitopes of p190-3 recognized by the CD8+ and CD4+ T cells from C57BL/6 mice were identified. The CD8+ T cells could kill H-2b APC in the presence of the appropriate epitope-containing peptide. The p190-3-specific CD4+ cells isolated from C57BL/6 mice were of the Th1 type. In contrast, Th2 cells, but no CD8+ T cells were present in a p190-3-specific line from BALB/c mice, which give good antibody responses to p190-3.     

Autologous versus allogeneic peptide-pulsed dendritic cells for anti-tumour vaccination: expression of allogeneic MHC supports activation of antigen specific T cells,but impairs early naïve cytotoxic priming and anti-tumour therapy

Background

Dendritic cells (DC) pulsed with MHC class I-restricted tumour associated antigen (TAA) peptides have been widely tested in pre-clinical models and early clinical studies for their ability to prime cytotoxic T cell (CTL) responses. The effect of co-expression of allogeneic MHC antigens on DC immunogenicity has not been addressed, and has implications for the feasibility of clinical applications.

Objective

This study compared DC from autologous H-2^b or semi-allogeneic F1 H-2^bxk mice pulsed with the H-2^b-restricted model ovalbumin (OVA) peptide SIINFEKL, and compared in vitro and in vivo their ability to (i) activate specific OT1 cells, (ii) prime naïve CTL, and (iii) protect against B16.OVA challenge. Peptide-pulsed autologous and allogeneic DC were also tested in naïve human CTL priming assays.

Results

Semi-allogeneic DC expressed higher levels of co-stimulatory molecules. On pulsing with SIINFEKL they triggered greater proliferation of OT1 cells in vitro and in vivo, but were less effective at naïve CTL priming and tumour protection. Autologous human DC were similarly more potent at naïve CTL priming against the melanoma-associated TAA MART-1 in vitro.

Conclusion

The expression of allogeneic MHC antigens on peptide-pulsed DC impairs naïve CTL priming and anti-tumour effects, despite effective TAA presentation both in vitro and in vivo.

     

Induction of class I MHC-restricted, peptide-specific cytolytic T lymphocytes by peptide priming in vivo

The present study investigated the possibility that protein Ag fragments in the form of peptides could serve as the priming Ag in the generation of a MHC class I-restricted immune response. Trypsin-digested chicken ovalbumin (OVA-TD) fragments were used as the model Ag. The results demonstrate the peptides within OVA-TD, when injected into C57BL/6 mice, could prime T cells which lysed H-2b Ia-EL4 target cells in an OVA-TD-specific manner. In contrast to priming with OVA-TD, immunization of mice with intact OVA did not lead to generation of CTL against OVA-TD or OVA. Furthermore, target cells sensitized with intact OVA failed to be recognized by OVA-peptide-specific CTL indicating that the target cells serving as APC were unable to generate the relevant peptide determinants recognized by the T cells. These results support the idea that the processing pathway within APC for class I-restricted T cells may differ from that used for class II-restricted T cells. Using OVA-TD-specific CTL clones (phenotypically Thy 1+, CD8+, CD4-, Pgp-1+) isolated from primed animals to screen OVA-TD fractions separated by HPLC, two T cell peptide determinants were identified corresponding to OVA sequences 111-122 and 370-381. Both determinants were recognized by CTL clones in the context of the H-2Db molecule.     

Newly activated T cells promote maturation of bystander dendritic cells but not IL-12 production

The activation of dendritic cells (DC) leads to increased costimulatory activity (termed DC maturation) and, in some instances, production of immunomodulatory cytokines such as IL-12. Both innate and T cell-derived signals can promote DC activation but it is unclear to what extent the two classes of stimuli are interchangeable or regulate distinct aspects of DC function. In this study, we show that signals from newly activated CD4(+) T cells cannot initiate IL-12 synthesis although they can amplify secretion of bioactive IL-12 p70 by DC exposed to an appropriate innate stimulus. This occurs exclusively in cis and does not influence IL-12 synthesis by bystander DC that do not present Ag. In marked contrast, signals from newly activated CD4(+) T cells can induce an increase in DC costimulatory activity in the absence of any innate priming. This occurs both in cis and in trans, affecting all DC in the microenvironment, including those that do not bear specific Ag. Consistent with the latter, we show that newly activated CD4(+) T cells in vivo can deliver "help" in trans, effectively lowering the number of MHC/peptide complexes required for proliferation of third-party naive CD4(+) T cells recognizing Ag on bystander DC. These results demonstrate that DC maturation and cytokine production are regulated distinctly by innate stimuli vs signals from CD4(+) T cells and reveal a process of trans activation of DC without secretion of polarizing cytokines that takes place during T cell priming and may be involved in amplifying immune responses.     

DNA fusion vaccines induce targeted epitope-specific CTLs against minor histocompatibility antigens from a normal or tolerized repertoire

We have designed DNA fusion vaccines able to induce high levels of epitope-specific CD8(+) T cells, using linked CD4(+) T cell help. Such vaccines can activate effective immunity against tumor Ags. To model performance against minor histocompatibility (H) Ags important in allogeneic hemopoietic stem cell transplantation, responses against the H2D(b)-restricted Uty and Smcy male HY epitopes have been investigated. Vaccination of females induced high levels of tetramer-specific, IFN-gamma-producing CD8(+) T cells against each epitope. Vaccines incorporating a single epitope primed effector CTL able to kill male splenocytes in vitro and in vivo, and HY(Db)Uty-specific vaccination accelerated rejection of syngeneic male skin grafts. Priming against either epitope established long-term memory, expandable by injection of male cells. Expanded CD8(+) T cells remained specific for the priming HY epitope, with responses to the second suppressed. To investigate vaccine performance in a tolerized repertoire, male mice were vaccinated with the fusion constructs. Strikingly, this also generated epitope-specific IFN-gamma-producing CD8(+) T cells with cytotoxic function. However, numbers and avidity were lower than in vaccinated females, and vaccinated males failed to reject CFSE-labeled male splenocytes in vivo. Nevertheless, these findings indicate that DNA fusion vaccines can mobilize CD8(+) T cells against endogenous minor H Ags, even from a profoundly tolerized repertoire. In the transplantation setting, vaccination of donors could prime and expand specific T cells for in vivo transfer. For patients, vaccination could activate a potentially less tolerized repertoire against similar Ags that may be overexpressed by tumor cells, for focused immune attack.     

The naive repertoire of human T helper cells specific for gp120, the envelope glycoprotein of HIV.

The envelope glycoprotein of HIV gp120 is a T cell Ag in experimental animals and in humans infected with HIV or deliberately immunized with gp120 in various forms. Inasmuch as T cell responses result from the interaction of Ag processed and presented by APC with the unprimed T cell repertoire, we have investigated the human T cell repertoire specific for gp120 in seronegative, normal individuals. T cell lines and clones specific for HIV gp120 were generated by repeated in vitro stimulation of peripheral blood T lymphocytes with gp120-pulsed APC, followed by IL-2 expansion. We observed that the T cell response to whole gp120 involved single restricted immunodominant epitopes in gp120 that differ between responding individuals. Focusing of the response to limited regions of gp120 when the whole Ag is used for priming suggests that one or more adjacent epitopes are immunodominant and mask responses to "immunorecessive" epitopes. We have been able to generate primary in vitro responses to recessive epitopes by stimulation in vitro with synthetic peptides of gp120. The results indicate that a much broader T repertoire can be detected when individual peptides are used for priming in vitro rather than gp120. This information has important implications for the development of vaccination protocols aimed at eliciting diverse immune responses to "immunorecessive" regions of envelope glycoprotein.     

Dendritic cells cross-dressed with peptide MHC class I complexes prime CD8+ T cells

The activation of naive CD8+ T cells has been attributed to two mechanisms: cross-priming and direct priming. Cross-priming and direct priming differ in the source of Ag and in the cell that presents the Ag to the responding CD8+ T cells. In cross-priming, exogenous Ag is acquired by professional APCs, such as dendritic cells (DC), which process the Ag into peptides that are subsequently presented. In direct priming, the APCs, which may or may not be DC, synthesize and process the Ag and present it themselves to CD8+ T cells. In this study, we demonstrate that naive CD8+ T cells are activated by a third mechanism, called cross-dressing. In cross-dressing, DC directly acquire MHC class I-peptide complexes from dead, but not live, donor cells by a cell contact-mediated mechanism, and present the intact complexes to naive CD8+ T cells. Such DC are cross-dressed because they are wearing peptide-MHC complexes generated by other cells. CD8+ T cells activated by cross-dressing are restricted to the MHC class I genotype of the donor cells and are specific for peptides generated by the donor cells. In vivo studies demonstrate that optimal priming of CD8+ T cells requires both cross-priming and cross-dressing. Thus, cross-dressing may be an important mechanism by which DC prime naive CD8+ T cells and may explain how CD8+ T cells are primed to Ags that are inefficiently cross-presented.     

Uptake of human papillomavirus virus-like particles by dendritic cells is mediated by Fcgamma receptors and contributes to acquisition of T cell immunity

Chimeric human papillomavirus virus-like particles (HPV cVLP) are immunogens able to elicit potent CTL responses in mice against HPV16-transformed tumors; however, the mechanism of T cell priming has remained elusive. HPV VLP bind to human MHC class II-positive APCs through interaction with FcgammaRIII, and immature dendritic cells (DC) become activated after incubation with HPV VLP; however, it is unclear whether FcgammaR on DC are involved. In mice, FcgammaRII and FcgammaRIII are homologous and bind similar ligands. In this study, we show that binding and uptake of VLP by DC from FcgammaRII, FcgammaRIII, and FcgammaRII/III-deficient mice are reduced by up to 50% compared with wild-type mice. Additionally, maturation of murine DC from FcgammaRII/III-deficient mice by VLP is also reduced, indicating that DC maturation, and thus Ag presentation, is diminished in the absence of expression of FcgammaR. To investigate the in vivo contribution of FcgammaR in the induction of cellular immunity, FcgammaR single- and double-knockout mice were immunized with HPV16 L1/L2-E7 cVLP, and the frequency of E7-specific T cells was analyzed by tetramer binding, IFN-gamma ELISPOT, and cytotoxicity assays. All readouts indicated that the frequency of E7-specific CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells induced in all FcgammaR-deficient mice after immunization with cVLP was significantly diminished. Based on these results, we propose that the low-affinity FcgammaR contribute to the high immunogenicity of HPV VLP during T cell priming by targeting VLP to DC and inducing a maturation state of the DC that facilitates Ag presentation to and activation of naive T cells.     

Selected allogeneic dendritic cells markedly enhance human tumour antigen-specific T cell response in vitro

Background  Alloreaction is known to accumulate several theoretical advantages that can improve dendritic cell (DC)-based anti-infective or antitumour strategies. Allogeneic DC have already been tested in experimental and clinical studies, but their efficacy compared with their autologous counterparts was rarely investigated and conclusions diverge. Objective  This study compared antigen-specific T cell responses following priming with autologous versus allogeneic DC and examined the possibility of screening these responses in order to select allogeneic DC that lead to a great amplification. Results  Allogeneic DC obtained from donors matched with the single HLA-A2 allele were efficient in generating in vitro peptide-specific T cell responses. When randomly chosen, allogeneic DC generated a broad range of antigen-specific T cell responses in comparison with autologous DC. When screened and selected, allogeneic DC markedly enhanced peptide-specific T cell priming and allowed a more efficient boosting of resulting T cells. These selected allogeneic DC provided a favourable cytokinic and cellular environment that can help concurrent antigen-specific responses. Conclusion  Ex vivo selected allogeneic DC provide adjuvant effects that lead to amplification of concomitant antigen-specific T cell responses. A. Gervais and J.-C. Eymard contributed equally to this work.     

In vivo depletion of CD11c+ cells delays the CD4+ T cell response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis and exacerbates the outcome of infection

Although dendritic cells (DC) are potent APC that prime T cells against many pathogens, there is no direct evidence that DC are required for immunity to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection. The requirement for DC to prime the CD4+ T cell response following Mtb infection was investigated using pCD11c-diptheria toxin receptor/GFP transgenic mice, in which DC can be transiently ablated in vivo. We show a critical role for DC in initiation of the CD4+ T cell response to the mycobacterial Ag early secretory Ag of tuberculosis 6. The delay in initiating the Ag-specific T cell response led to impaired control of Mtb replication. Interestingly, DC were not required for the secondary CD4+ T cell response following Mtb infection in peptide-vaccinated mice. Thus, this study shows that DC are essential for the initiation of the adaptive T cell response to the human pathogen Mtb.