title: IL-13 supports differentiation of dendritic cells from circulating precursors in concert with GM-CSF.
abstract: Dendritic cells (DC) can be obtained from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) by in vitro culture with IL-4 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). IL-13 shares properties with IL-4 but its receptor does not involve the common gamma chain present in the receptor complex of IL-4 and other cytokines. The present study was aimed to elucidate whether IL-13 can substitute for IL-4 in DC cultures and to compare the phenotypic and functional characteristics of cells obtained using these two cytokines. Monocyte-enriched PBMC were cultured with GM-CSF and IL-4 or GM-CSF and IL-13. Cell yields and DClike morphology were similar. The cells showed a membrane phenotype typical of DC (MHC II+; CD1a+; CD14-; CD3-; CD20-). IL-13-derived and IL-4-derived DC were similar in terms of macropinocytosis, stimulatory capacity of cord blood lymphocytes in mixed leukocyte reaction (MLR), and responsiveness to chemotactic signals. It is concluded that IL-13 is as effective as IL-4, combined with GM-CSF in sustaining DC differentiation from PBMC and that activation of the common gamma chain-driven transduction pathways is dispensable for DC differentiation and function.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Immunology and Cell Biology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Piemonti
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bernasconi
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Luini
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Trobonjaca
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Minty
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Allavena
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mantovani
mesh_terms: D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D004347:Drug Interactions; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D007937:Leukapheresis; D007959:Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed; D010641:Phenotype; D010873:Pinocytosis
chemical_list: D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D018793:Interleukin-13; D015847:Interleukin-4; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor