title: Langerin+ dermal dendritic cells are critical for CD8+ T cell activation and IgH γ-1 class switching in response to gene gun vaccines.
abstract: The C-type lectin langerin/CD207 was originally discovered as a specific marker for epidermal Langerhans cells (LC). Recently, additional and distinct subsets of langerin(+) dendritic cells (DC) have been identified in lymph nodes and peripheral tissues of mice. Although the role of LC for immune activation or modulation is now being discussed controversially, other langerin(+) DC appear crucial for protective immunity in a growing set of infection and vaccination models. In knock-in mice that express the human diphtheria toxin receptor under control of the langerin promoter, injection of diphtheria toxin ablates LC for several weeks whereas other langerin(+) DC subsets are replenished within just a few days. Thus, by careful timing of diphtheria toxin injections selective states of deficiency in either LC only or all langerin(+) cells can be established. Taking advantage of this system, we found that, unlike selective LC deficiency, ablation of all langerin(+) DC abrogated the activation of IFN-γ-producing and cytolytic CD8(+) T cells after gene gun vaccination. Moreover, we identified migratory langerin(+) dermal DC as the subset that directly activated CD8(+) T cells in lymph nodes. Langerin(+) DC were also critical for IgG1 but not IgG2a Ab induction, suggesting differential polarization of CD4(+) T helper cells by langerin(+) or langerin-negative DC, respectively. In contrast, protein vaccines administered with various adjuvants induced IgG1 independently of langerin(+) DC. Taken together, these findings reflect a highly specialized division of labor between different DC subsets both with respect to Ag encounter as well as downstream processes of immune activation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria.
authors.forename: Angelika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stoecklinger
authors.forename: Tekalign D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Eticha
authors.forename: Mehrnaz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mesdaghi
authors.forename: Adrien
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kissenpfennig
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Malissen
authors.forename: Josef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thalhamer
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hammerl
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D019470:Biolistics; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D016923:Cell Death / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000235:genetics; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000145:classification* / Q000378:metabolism; D007134:Immunoglobulin Switch Region / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D007142:Immunoglobulin gamma-Chains / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism; D037181:Lectins, C-Type / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology*; D037241:Mannose-Binding Lectins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D000954:Antigens, Surface; C121916:CD207 protein, human; C498497:Cd207 protein, mouse; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; D007142:Immunoglobulin gamma-Chains; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D037241:Mannose-Binding Lectins; D019444:Vaccines, DNA