IL-12 induction by a TH1-inducing adjuvant in vivo: dendritic cell subsets and regulation by IL-10.
IL-12 induction is critical for immune responses against many viruses and intracellular bacterial pathogens. Recent studies suggest that IL-12-secreting dendritic cells (DC) are potent Th1-inducing APC. However, controversy exists concerning the function of DC subsets. Murine studies have suggested that CD8(+) DC preferentially induce Th1 responses, whereas CD8(-) DC induce Th2 development; in this model, different DC subsets prime different responses. Alternatively, the propensity of DC subsets to prime a Th1 response could depend upon the type of initial stimulus. We used a prototypic Th1-inducing adjuvant, heat-killed Brucella abortus (HKBA) to assess stimulation of DC subsets, relationship between Ag burden and IL-12 production, and down-regulation of DC subset IL-12 production by IL-10. In this study, we show that DC were sole producers of IL-12, although most HKBA uptake was by splenic macrophages and granulocytes. More CD8(-) than CD8(+) DC produced IL-12 after HKBA challenge, whereas only CD8(+) DC produced IL-12 after injection of another Th1-promoting microbial substance, soluble Toxoplasma gondii Ags. Studies in IL-10-deficient mice revealed that IL-10 down-regulates frequency and duration of IL-12 production by both DC subsets. In the absence of IL-10, IL-12 expression is enabled in CD11c(low) cells, but not in macrophages or granulocytes. These findings support the concept of DC as the major IL-12 producers in spleens, but challenge the notion that CD8(+) and CD8(-) DC are destined to selectively induce Th1 or Th2 responses, respectively. Thus, the nature of the stimulating substance is important in determining which DC subsets are activated to produce IL-12.
Huang
L Y
LY
Laboratory of Plasma Derivatives, Division of Hematology, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
Reis e Sousa
C
C
Itoh
Y
Y
Inman
J
J
Scott
D E
DE
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002003:Brucella abortus / Q000276:immunology*; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000276:immunology; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D016753:Interleukin-10; D018664:Interleukin-12