title: Increased production of IFN-γ by natural killer cells triggered with bone marrow-derived dendritic cells cultured in the presence of retinoic acid.
abstract: All-trans-retinoic acid (RA), a vitamin A metabolite, is beginning to be explored as an immunopharmacologic agent. While its effects on dendritic cells and the induction of regulatory T cells have been recognized, little is known about the effect of RA on dendritic cell-natural killer cell (DC-NK) crosstalk. DC-NK crosstalk is important in directing the innate immune response, as well as subsequent adaptive immune response during viral infection, cancer, pregnancy, as well as organ transplantation. Here we demonstrate with flow cytometry and cytokine bead array analysis, that bone marrow derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) cultured in the presence of ≥98% HPLC purified RA (RA-DCs) were suppressed in their ability to mature in response to TLR stimulation. 1 µM of RA was found to be optimal without affecting the percentage of DCs in culture. Upregulation of MHCII and costimulatory molecule CD86, as well as IL-12 secretion were inhibited by RA treatment. RA-DCs differentially modulate NK cell function compared to BMDCs. In vitro co-culture of RA-DCs with NK cells reveal increased IFN-γ secretion. Increased production of IFN-γ in lung NK cells was also demonstrated when RA-DCs were injected into the tail vein. Our results suggest that RA-DCs exhibit a regulatory phenotype and function, which differentially modulates NK cell function. Furthermore, IFN-γ has various regulatory and immunological functions, depending on the immunological context. The effect of RA-DCs needs to be further explored in the context of a disease in order to understand the regulatory effects of retinoic acid.
authors.affiliation: The McMaster Brain-Body Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada.
authors.forename: Jessie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chau
authors.forename: Dasha
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Moza
authors.forename: Nazia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hossain
authors.forename: Jeffrey K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bienenstock
authors.forename: Khalil
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Karimi
mesh_terms: D019264:Adoptive Transfer; D000818:Animals; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects*; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000378:metabolism; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010641:Phenotype; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors / Q000378:metabolism; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors; D018664:Interleukin-12; D014212:Tretinoin; D007371:Interferon-gamma
keywords: Dendritic cell; Immuno-pharmacology; Natural killer cell; Retinoic acid