title: Factors determining the spontaneous activation of splenic dendritic cells in culture.
abstract: Dendritic cells (DCs) serve as a link between the innate and adaptive immune systems. The activation state of DCs is crucial in this role. However, when DCs are isolated from lymphoid tissues, purified and placed in culture they undergo 'spontaneous' activation. The basis of this was explored, using up-regulation of DC surface MHC II, CD40, CD80 and CD86 as indicators of DC activation. No evidence was found for DC damage during isolation or for microbial products causing the activation. The culture activation of spleen DCs differed from that of Langerhans cells when released from E-cadherin-mediated adhesions, since E-cadherin was not detected and activation still occurred with β-catenin null DCs. Much of the activation could be attributed to DC-DC interactions. Although increases in surface MHC II levels occurred under all culture conditions tested, the increase in expression of CD40, CD80 and CD86 was much less under culture conditions where such interactions were minimised. DC-to-DC contact under the artificial conditions of high DC concentration in culture induced the production of soluble factors and these, in turn, induced the up-regulation of co-stimulatory molecules on the DC surface.
authors.affiliation: The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, 1G Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3050, Australia.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vremec
authors.forename: Meredith
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: O'Keeffe
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ferrero
authors.forename: Ute
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.forename: Freddy
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Radtke
authors.forename: Bernadette
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hertzog
authors.forename: Jose
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Villadangos
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shortman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000276:immunology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002678:Chimera; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D013154:Spleen; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000276:immunology; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D015820:Cadherins; D016207:Cytokines; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D051176:beta Catenin