title: Functional expression of CD40 antigen on human epidermal Langerhans cells.
abstract: It is now well established that interactions of CD40 on the B cells, along with its ligand (CD40-L) on the T cells, regulate B cell proliferation and differentiation. However, the functional significance of CD40 expression on cells known for most efficient Ag-presenting function, i.e., dendritic cells, is not so clear. In this study, we demonstrate that CD40 is expressed on human dendritic Langerhans cells (LC) freshly isolated from epidermis. Using CD40-L transfected cells, CD40 triggering was found to enhance LC viability when cultured and to result in phenotypic alterations. Thus, a 2-day CD40 activation induced up-regulation of CD54 and CD86 at the LC surface, while it did not significantly affect the levels of HLA-DR, CD1a, CD58, and CD80 expression. These phenotypic changes correlate with enhanced LC allostimulatory property, as shown by the use of paraformaldehyde-fixed LC. Furthermore, mAbs against CD40, as well as CD40-L, strongly inhibit the primary T cell response to allogeneic LC. Collectively, these data support a role for CD40/CD40-L pair in the development of normal T cell functions.
authors.affiliation: INSERM Unit 346, E.Herriot Hospital, Lyon, France.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Péguet-Navarro
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dalbiez-Gauthier
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Rattis
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Van Kooten
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Banchereau
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schmitt
mesh_terms: D001666:Binding Sites, Antibody; D001667:Binding, Competitive / Q000276:immunology; D019013:CD40 Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D023201:CD40 Ligand; D002469:Cell Separation; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000276:immunology; D004817:Epidermis / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D019013:CD40 Antigens; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D023201:CD40 Ligand