Human monocyte-derived dendritic cells differentiated in the presence of IL-2 produce proinflammatory cytokines and prime Th1 immune response.
Interleukin (IL)-2 plays an important role in the control of the immune responses, and it is released in a variety of tissues in response to inflammatory stimuli. As monocytes and mature dendritic cells (DCs) express CD25, the high-affinity subunit of IL-2 receptor, we examined the effect of exogenous IL-2 on the in vitro generation and maturation of DCs from monocytes. Human monocyte-derived DCs (MDDCs) were generated by culturing monocytes with granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and IL-4 in the presence or absence of IL-2. The cytokine was added at the beginning and after 5 days of culture. Our findings indicate that IL-2 does induce monocytes to differentiate into DCs with the same morphology and phenotype of that obtained in the presence of GM-CSF and IL-4 alone, but with some distinctive functional properties. DCs differentiated in the presence of IL-2 secreted significantly more IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, and IL-12 p70 in response to lipopolysaccharide stimulation and induced allogeneic, naïve T cells to release a significantly higher amount of interferon-gamma if compared with DCs obtained by culturing monocytes with GM-CSF and IL-4. These results indicate unrecognized effects of IL-2 on human MDDCs and suggest that an IL-2-rich environment during differentiation and maturation of DCs can modify their T helper cell-inducing properties.
Sanarico
Nunzia
N
Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy.
Ciaramella
Antonio
A
Sacchi
Alessandra
A
Bernasconi
Daniela
D
Bossù
Paola
P
Mariani
Francesca
F
Colizzi
Vittorio
V
Vendetti
Silvia
S
D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D010641:Phenotype; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology*
D016207:Cytokines; D007376:Interleukin-2; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D007371:Interferon-gamma