Role of dendritic cells in the priming of CD4+ T lymphocytes to peptide antigen in vivo.
The contribution of dendritic cells (DC) in the initial priming of CD4+ T lymphocytes in vivo was examined. To assess the capacity of different APC to prime CD4+ T cells, a series of MHC class II I-E transgenic mice that differentially express I-E on APC were utilized. Transgenic mice that express I-E primarily on DC, on macrophages, and on B cells were primed with an I-E restricted peptide in vivo, and the extent of priming was determined by restimulation of CD4+ T cells in vitro with the same Ag. The results indicate that DC are required for priming of CD4+ T cells, and that the extent of priming correlates with the frequency of I-E+ DC. Moreover, DC alone can serve as APC for the peptide Ag, in that priming can be restored in an I-E negative mouse by the transfer of peptide-pulsed I-E+ DC. The potency of DC, compared with B cells and macrophages, to prime naive CD4+ T cells was confirmed with in vitro studies.
Levin
D
D
Section of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510.
Constant
S
S
Pasqualini
T
T
Flavell
R
R
Bottomly
K
K
D000818:Animals; D017951:Antigen Presentation; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000276:immunology; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000235:genetics; D016219:Immunotherapy, Adoptive; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D010455:Peptides / Q000276:immunology*
D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; C024138:I-E-antigen; D010455:Peptides