title: Osteoprotegerin expression in dendritic cells increases with maturation and is NF-kappaB-dependent.
abstract: Dendritic cells (DC) comprise a unique leukocyte population which controls primary immune responses. Recent studies indicate that DC express osteoprotegerin (OPG), a secreted tumor necrosis factor receptor homolog, which regulates DC survival, monocyte chemotaxis, and B cell development and function by ligating TNF family member receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand (RANKL). The precise regulators of OPG expression in DC have not been investigated. In this study, we assessed OPG mRNA steady state levels by Northern blot analysis and OPG protein secretion by an immunoassay in monocyte-derived DC of different maturation, and the effect of different cytokines and hormones on OPG expression. OPG was upregulated with maturation of DC, whereas pretreatment of DC with 1alpha,25(OH)(2) vitamin D(3), tamoxifen, or dexamethasone, agents that inhibit differentiation of DC, decreased OPG expression. In vivo, OPG was found to be colocalized with mature CD83(+) DC in human tonsils by immunofluorescence confocal microscopy analysis. Furthermore, OPG was upregulated by TNF superfamily members TNF-alpha, anti-CD40, and RANKL, and by ligands of the Toll-like/IL-1 receptor family including IL-1beta, double-stranded RNA (poly I:C), or lipopolysaccharide (LPS), all of which induce maturation of DC. Gene silencing by small interfering RNA (siRNA) directed against transcription factor NF-kappaB abrogated the expression of OPG as demonstrated by real-time PCR. In summary, we describe that the expression of OPG by DC increases with maturation and is NF-kappaB-dependent, possibly regulating immune responses in lymphoid tissues.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiology, Philipps-University, Marburg, Germany. schoppet@mailer.uni-marburg.de
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schoppet
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Henser
authors.forename: Volker
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ruppert
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Stübig
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Al-Fakhri
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Maisch
authors.forename: Lorenz C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Hofbauer
mesh_terms: D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D002762:Cholecalciferol / Q000494:pharmacology; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000494:pharmacology; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D020868:Gene Silencing; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000494:pharmacology; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000494:pharmacology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000494:pharmacology; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D053244:Osteoprotegerin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D053245:RANK Ligand / Q000494:pharmacology; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000494:pharmacology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology; D014815:Vitamins / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D007375:Interleukin-1; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016328:NF-kappa B; D053244:Osteoprotegerin; D053245:RANK Ligand; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D014815:Vitamins; D013629:Tamoxifen; D002762:Cholecalciferol; D003907:Dexamethasone; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; D015232:Dinoprostone