Cutting edge: pulmonary Legionella pneumophila is controlled by plasmacytoid dendritic cells but not type I IFN.
Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) are well known as the major cell type that secretes type I IFN in response to viral infections. Their role in combating other classes of infectious organisms, including bacteria, and their mechanisms of action are poorly understood. We have found that pDCs play a significant role in the acute response to the intracellular bacterial pathogen Legionella pneumophila. pDCs were rapidly recruited to the lungs of L. pneumophila-infected mice, and depletion of pDCs resulted in increased bacterial load. The ability of pDCs to combat infection did not require type I IFN. This study points to an unappreciated role for pDCs in combating bacterial infections and indicates a novel mechanism of action for this cell type.
Ang
Desmond K Y
DK
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.
Oates
Clare V L
CV
Schuelein
Ralf
R
Kelly
Michelle
M
Sansom
Fiona M
FM
Bourges
Dorothée
D
Boon
Louis
L
Hertzog
Paul J
PJ
Hartland
Elizabeth L
EL
van Driel
Ian R
IR
D000818:Animals; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D016952:Legionella pneumophila / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology*; D008168:Lung / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D053633:Receptor, Interferon alpha-beta / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics
C508034:Ifnar2 protein, mouse; D007370:Interferon Type I; D053633:Receptor, Interferon alpha-beta