title: Regulation of dendritic cell function and T cell priming by the fatty acid-binding protein AP2.
abstract: The fatty acid-binding protein (FABP) family consists of a number of conserved cytoplasmic proteins with roles in intracellular lipid transport, storage, and metabolism. Examination of a comprehensive leukocyte gene expression database revealed strong expression of the adipocyte FABP aP2 in human monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DCs). We isolated bone marrow-derived DC from aP2-deficient mice, and showed that expression of DC cytokines including IL-12 and TNF was significantly impaired in these cells. Degradation of IkappaBalpha was also impaired in aP2-deficient DCs, indicative of reduced signaling through the IkappaB kinase-NF-kappaB pathway. The cytokine defect was selective because there was no effect on Ag uptake or expression of MHC class II, CD40, CD80, or CD86. In an MLR, aP2-deficient DCs stimulated markedly lower T cell proliferation and cytokine production than did wild-type DCs. Moreover, aP2-deficient mice immunized with keyhole limpet hemocyanin/CFA showed reduced production of IFN-gamma by restimulated draining lymph node cells, suggesting a similar defect in DC function in vivo. Similarly, infection of aP2-deficient mice with the natural mouse pathogen ectromelia virus resulted in substantially lower production of IFN-gamma by CD8+ T cells. Thus, FABP aP2 plays an important role in DC function and T cell priming, and provides an additional link between metabolic processes and the regulation of immune responses.
authors.affiliation: Immunology and Inflammation Research Program, Garvan Institute for Medical Research, Darlinghurst, New South Wales 2010, Australia. m.rolph@garvan.org.au
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Rolph
authors.forename: Timothy R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: Bennett O V
authors.initials: BO
authors.lastname: Shum
authors.forename: Cem Z
authors.initials: CZ
authors.lastname: Gorgun
authors.forename: Carsten
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schmitz-Peiffer
authors.forename: Ian A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Ramshaw
authors.forename: Gökhan S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Hotamisligil
authors.forename: Charles R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Mackay
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression; D020672:I-kappa B Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000378:metabolism; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology*; D007959:Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed; D051379:Mice; D000072000:NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins; D020672:I-kappa B Proteins; C000606204:NFKBIA protein, human; C000606205:Nfkbia protein, mouse; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000072000:NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha; D018664:Interleukin-12