Dendritic cells enhance the differentiation of naïve B cells into plasma cells in vitro.
We have shown previously that in vitro-generated human dendritic cells have an effect on the response of B cells at various stages of their differentiation. In a culture system described for the in vitro induction of plasma-cell differentiation, it was reported that naïve B cells have a poor propensity to differentiate into plasma cells. In such a culture system, 12% of naïve B cells differentiated into plasma cells in the presence of IL-2 and IL-10, despite the interruption of CD40 signalling which is necessary for plasma-cell differentiation. However, as reported herein, naïve B cells differentiated fully into plasma cells in response to dendritic cells. Addition of dendritic cells enhanced this differentiation strikingly by recruiting 57% of B cells as plasma cells producing IgM, but also IgG and IgA. In this model, dendritic cells act in synergy with IL-2 at an early stage of CD40-dependent B-cell differentiation, while IL-2 and IL-10 act together, at a later stage, in the generation of plasma cells in a CD40-independent manner. Thus, in addition to the key role played by dendritic cells in the initiation of T-cell responses, our results suggest that dendritic cells regulate humoral responses.
Fayette
J
J
Schering-Plough, Laboratory for Immunological Research, Dardilly, France.
Durand
I
I
Bridon
J M
JM
Arpin
C
C
Dubois
B
B
Caux
C
C
Liu
Y J
YJ
Banchereau
J
J
Brière
F
F
D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D019013:CD40 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007072:Immunoglobulin D / Q000378:metabolism; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000378:metabolism; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000166:cytology*
D019013:CD40 Antigens; D007072:Immunoglobulin D; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016753:Interleukin-10; D018664:Interleukin-12