title: Transdifferentiation of polymorphonuclear neutrophils: acquisition of CD83 and other functional characteristics of dendritic cells.
abstract: Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) are in the first line of defense against bacterial infections. They are considered to be end-differentiated cells undergoing constitutive apoptosis within hours after release from the bone marrow. During pathological events, however, their life span is extended in conjunction with morphological and functional alterations indicative of a transdifferentiation of mature PMN. To further characterize differentiated PMN, the alterations seen in vivo were reproduced by cultivating PMN of healthy donors with either gamma-interferon, granulocyte/macrophage colony stimulating factor, or a combination thereof. Thus cultivated cells escaped from apoptosis, and protein synthesis was induced, notably of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II antigens, CD80 and CD86. Moreover, CD83, thought to be specific for dendritic cells was synthesized, while typical markers of PMN, including CD66b, CD11a/CD11b/CD11c, CD15, CD18 were preserved. A profound alteration of both cellular morphology and of function was seen: the cultivated PMN lost their chemotactic activity but had acquired the ability to present to T-cells a peptide antigen in a MHC class II restricted manner. The data lead to the conclusion that mature PMN can differentiate further to cells with characteristics of DCs, thereby connecting PMN to the specific T-cell response.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Immunology and Department of Nephrology, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 305, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Iking-Konert
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Csekö
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stegmaier
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Andrassy
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Hänsch
mesh_terms: D017951:Antigen Presentation; D015703:Antigens, CD; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002633:Chemotaxis; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D007163:Immunosorbent Techniques; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D010587:Phagocytosis; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D013997:Time Factors; D000097802:CD83 Antigen
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D005609:Free Radicals; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D010100:Oxygen; D000097802:CD83 Antigen