Presentation of soluble antigens by mast cells: upregulation by interleukin-4 and granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor and downregulation by interferon-gamma.
We recently showed that bone marrow-derived mast cells bore MHC class II molecules and could present antigens to specific T cell hybridomas. This article summarizes the effects of purified recombinant cytokines on the expression of MHC class II molecules by mast cells and on their antigen-presenting capacity. Since IL-3 is essential for mast cell growth, all the cytokines were analyzed in the presence of IL-3. IL-3 downregulated the production of Ia molecules, so that mast cells cultured in IL-3 alone had no antigen presenting ability. In contrast, IL-4 and IFN-gamma upregulated the production of MHC class II molecules, while GM-CSF had no effect. The antigen-presenting capacity of IL-4-treated mast cells was substantially enhanced by incubating these cells with GM-CSF for 2 days. GM-CSF enhanced antigen presentation only in combination with IL-4. The activation of mast cells was reversible and could not be repeated. Finally, incubation of IL-4- or IL-4/GM-CSF-treated mast cells with IFN-gamma led to almost complete inhibition of the antigen-presenting function. These findings provide new insights into the regulation of specific allergic responses.
Frandji
P
P
Unité d'Immuno-Allergie, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.
Tkaczyk
C
C
Oskéritzian
C
C
Lapeyre
J
J
Peronet
R
R
David
B
B
Guillet
J G
JG
Mécheri
S
S
D000818:Animals; D017951:Antigen Presentation / Q000276:immunology*; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells; D002460:Cell Line; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000276:immunology; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000502:physiology*; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000502:physiology*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis; D007377:Interleukin-3 / Q000502:physiology; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000502:physiology*; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000276:immunology
D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D007376:Interleukin-2; D007377:Interleukin-3; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor