title: A pivotal role of Rho GTPase in the regulation of morphology and function of dendritic cells.
abstract: Dendritic cell (DC) is the most potent activator of CD4+ T cells and has unique dendrites and veils. To explore the function of Rho in DC, exoenzyme C3 from Clostridium botulinum was used as a specific inhibitor of Rho. Treatment of DC with C3 (DC/C3) resulted in profound morphological changes by losing dendrites and emerging of shrunk membrane processes that were in parallel with marked reduction of polymerized actin in the marginal area. Inactivation of Rho-associated coiled coil-containing kinase (p160ROCK) by a specific ROCK inhibitor Y-27632 also led to disappearance of dendrites of DC with retaining large membrane expansions. In scanning electron microscopy, untreated DCs interacted with CD4+ T cells more efficiently than DC/C3. Conjugate formation assay showed that the number of DCs associated with CD4+ T cells was 2-fold higher in untreated DCs than that of DC/C3. Alloantigen-presenting capacity of DC/C3 was significantly suppressed in a dose-dependent manner. Because C3 treatment did not affect the surface expression of HLA, costimulatory, and adhesion molecules of DC, we examined cytokine production of DC and naive CD4+ T cells to further elucidate the inhibitory mechanism of MLR. Unexpectedly, DC/C3 increased IL-12 production after LPS stimulation. Naive CD4+ T cells cocultured with DC/C3 produced the increased percentage of IFN-gamma-producing cells, whereas the percentage of IL-2-producing T cells was decreased. These results demonstrate that Rho GTPase in DC controls both characteristic shape and immunogenic capacity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics and Clinical Immunology, Mie University School of Medicine, 2-174 Edobashi, Tsu, Mie 514-8507, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Azuma
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ido
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hirayama
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iwamoto
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kumamoto
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sakurai
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Komada
mesh_terms: D036002:ADP Ribose Transferases / Q000494:pharmacology; D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D017951:Antigen Presentation; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D001905:Botulinum Toxins; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism; D048429:Cell Size; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D007959:Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D015703:Antigens, CD; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D007376:Interleukin-2; D018664:Interleukin-12; D036002:ADP Ribose Transferases; C063007:exoenzyme C3, Clostridium botulinum; D001905:Botulinum Toxins; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins