title: Elimination of activated but not resting primary human CD4+ and CD8+ T cells by Fas ligand (FasL/CD95L)-expressing Killer-dendritic cells.
abstract: Dendritic cells (DC) genetically engineered to express high levels of Fas ligand (FasL/CD95L) have been demonstrated to delete T cells in an antigen specific manner in several different animal models in vivo. However, the immunomodulatory capacity of primary human FasL-expressing Killer-DC has not been determined. Therefore, human Killer-DC were generated from mature monocyte-derived DC using the inducible CRE/LoxP adenoviral vector system, and the immunoregulatory capacity of these cells was analyzed in cocultures with primary human T cells in vitro. Combined transductions of DC by AdloxPFasL and AxCANCre resulted in FasL expression in > 70% of DC without affecting the mature phenotype. Proliferation of activated primary human T cells was inhibited up to 80% in cocultures with FasL-expressing DC but not EGFP-transduced DC, which was due to induction of apoptosis in activated but not resting CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Apoptosis induced by Killer-DC could be blocked by an anti-FasL-antibody in a dose dependent fashion. The present results demonstrate that FasL-expressing Killer-DC eliminate activated but not resting primary human CD4+ and CD8+ T cells by induction of Fas-mediated apoptosis supporting the concept to apply Killer-DC as a novel strategy for the treatment of T cell-dependent autoimmune disease and allograft rejection in humans.
authors.affiliation: The University of Regensburg, Department of Internal Medicine I, 93042 Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hoves
authors.forename: Stefan W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Krause
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Herfarth
authors.forename: Dagmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Halbritter
authors.forename: Huang-Ge
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: John D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Mountz
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schölmerich
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fleck
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000276:immunology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002455:Cell Division / Q000276:immunology; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D006801:Humans; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice
chemical_list: C505661:FASLG protein, human; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; C505658:Fasl protein, mouse; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins