Cell-cell cooperation at the T helper cell/mast cell immunological synapse.
It has been suggested that mast cells might serve, under certain circumstances, as antigen-presenting cells (APCs) for T cells. However, whether cognate interactions between mast cells and class II-restricted CD4(+) T cells actually occur is still an open question. We addressed this question by using peritoneal cell-derived mast cells (PCMCs) and freshly isolated peritoneal mast cells as APC models. Our results show that in vitro treatment of PCMCs with interferon-gamma and interleukin-4 induced surface expression of mature major histocompatibility complex class II molecules and CD86. When interferon-gamma/interleukin-4-primed PCMCs were used as APCs for CD4(+) T cells, they induced activation of effector T cells but not of their naive counterparts as evidenced by CD69 up-regulation, proliferation, and cytokine production. Confocal laser scanning microscopy showed that CD4(+) T cells formed immunological synapses and polarized their secretory machinery toward both antigen-loaded PCMCs and freshly isolated peritoneal mast cells. Finally, on cognate interaction with CD4(+) T cells, mast cells lowered their threshold of activation via FcepsilonRI. Our results show that mast cells can establish cognate interactions with class II-restricted helper T cells, implying that they can actually serve as resident APCs in inflamed tissues.
Gaudenzio
Nicolas
N
Inserm, U563, Toulouse, France.
Espagnolle
Nicolas
N
Mars
Lennart T
LT
Liblau
Roland
R
Valitutti
Salvatore
S
Espinosa
Eric
E
D000818:Animals; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D054992:Immunological Synapses / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D000099192:CD69 Antigens
D015703:Antigens, CD; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D016207:Cytokines; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D000099192:CD69 Antigens