title: A cell line model for the differentiation of human dendritic cells.
abstract: We have identified human monocytic (THP-1) and myelogenous CD34+ (KG-1) leukemia cell lines that can be differentiated rapidly into mature dendritic cells (DCs) when cultured in serum-free medium containing GM-CSF, TNF-alpha, and ionomycin. These hematopoietic cell line-derived DCs are highly pure and monotypic, and display the morphologic, phenotypic, molecular, and functional properties of DCs generated from human donor-derived monocytes or CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells. During differentiation into mature DCs, the cells exhibit de novo cell-surface expression of CD83, CD80, CD86, CD40, CD206, CD209, CD120a, CD120b, and intracellular synthesis of IL-10, increase their endocytotic capacity, and acquire characteristic stellate morphology. To further define the cells as DCs, cytosolic induction and upregulation of RelB and RelA (p65), transcription factors of the NF-kappaB/Rel family essential for differentiation and maturation of DCs, as well as upregulation of the immunoproteasome subunits LMP2, LMP7, and MECL-1, and the proteasome activator PA28alpha, components essential for efficient MHC class I peptide antigen processing, were demonstrated during differentiation of the cells. In contrast to the cell lines, the cell line-derived mature DCs are capable of stimulating allogeneic CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, ultimately defining them as potent antigen-presenting cells. The approach to differentiate THP-1 and KG-1 cells into immature and mature DCs may serve as an experimental model to study molecular events and pathways that govern the differentiation of human malignant myeloid precursors, monocytes, and CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells into DCs.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Immunology, Department of Transplantation Immunology, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 305, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Carsten
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Berges
authors.forename: Cord
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Naujokat
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tinapp
authors.forename: Hubert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wieczorek
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Höh
authors.forename: Mahmoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sadeghi
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Opelz
authors.forename: Volker
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Daniel
mesh_terms: D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000276:immunology; D002460:Cell Line; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors / Q000276:immunology; D008954:Models, Biological; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
chemical_list: D018952:Antigens, CD34; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors