DEC-205 as a marker of dendritic cells with regulatory effects on CD8 T cell responses.
We have previously reported that a population of lymphoid-related CD8alpha(+) DEC-205(+) dendritic cells (DC) from mouse spleen have 'regulatory' effects on the T cells they activate. CD8 T cells produce IL-2 and give a sustained proliferative response to allogeneic CD8alpha(-) DEC-205(-) splenic DC, but produce little IL-2 and give a limited response to allogeneic CD8(+) DEC-205(+) splenic DC. Although CD8alpha and DEC-205 correlate closely among splenic DC, lymph nodes (LN) include a large population of CD8alpha(low) DEC-205(high) DC. By i.v. transfer of purified thymic early lymphoid precursors into irradiated recipient mice we now demonstrate that these CD8alpha(low) but DEC-205(high) LN DC can be the progeny of a lymphoid precursor population, apparently corresponding to the CD8alpha(high) DEC-205(high) DC progeny of the same precursors in spleen and thymus. By culture of the separated, purified DC with allogeneic CD8 T cells we demonstrate that the CD8alpha(low) DEC-205(high) DC of LN are also functionally equivalent to the CD8alpha(high) DEC-205(high) DC of spleen. Therefore, DEC-205 but not CD8alpha serves to segregate functionally distinct DC types in LN. However, DC isolated from the spleens of genetically manipulated DEC-205(null) mice and separated on the basis of CD8alpha expression have a similar capacity to stimulate CD8 T cells as their heterozygous littermate controls, with the CD8alpha(+) but now DEC-205(null) DC still giving restricted responses. In conclusion, high expression of DEC-205 appears to be a good marker of the lymphoid-related regulatory type of DC, but DEC-205 itself is not responsible for transmitting negative signals to the T cells.
Kronin
V
V
The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Post Office Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria 3050, Australia.
Wu
L
L
Gong
S
S
Nussenzweig
M C
MC
Shortman
K
K
D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000276:immunology; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000172:deficiency / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D015778:Minor Histocompatibility Antigens; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000172:deficiency / Q000276:immunology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000276:immunology
D015703:Antigens, CD; D016827:CD8 Antigens; C093569:DEC-205 receptor; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D015778:Minor Histocompatibility Antigens; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface