BCG stimulated dendritic cells induce an interleukin-10 producing T-cell population with no T helper 1 or T helper 2 bias in vitro.
Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine has been associated with beneficial effects on overall childhood mortality in low-income countries; this cannot be explained merely by the prevention of tuberculosis (TB) deaths. The beneficial effects of BCG vaccine could be the result of either strengthening of pro-inflammatory mechanisms, helping neonates to fight infections, or the induction of an immune-regulatory network restricting overt inflammation and intense pathology. We aimed to study the effect of live BCG on the ability of dendritic cells (DCs) to polarize T-cell responses. Monocyte-derived DCs were matured in the presence or absence of BCG. The DC phenotype was assessed by CD83 expression, interleukin-12 (IL-12) and IL-10 production, as well as for the ability to polarize T-cell responses. Following stimulation with CD40 ligand, DCs matured in the presence of BCG showed enhanced IL-10 and diminished IL-12 production. These DCs primed naive T cells to develop into IL-10-producing T cells, with no T helper 1 or T helper 2 bias. These results suggest that BCG vaccination might result in the development of IL-10-producing DCs as well as IL-10-producing T cells that could contribute to restricting overt inflammation in infants exposed to pathogens and thus lead to lower infant mortality.
Madura Larsen
Jeppe
J
Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands. jmlarsen@immi.ku.dk
Benn
Christine Stabell
CS
Fillie
Yvonne
Y
van der Kleij
Desiree
D
Aaby
Peter
P
Yazdanbakhsh
Maria
M
D000328:Adult; D001500:BCG Vaccine / Q000276:immunology*; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000276:immunology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology; D016764:Cell Polarity / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018089:Superantigens / Q000276:immunology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology
D001500:BCG Vaccine; D018089:Superantigens; D016753:Interleukin-10; D018664:Interleukin-12