Activation of influenza virus–specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells: a new role for plasmacytoid dendritic cells in adaptive immunity
Blood, The Journal of the American Society of Hematology, 2003•ashpublications.org
Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) contribute to innate antiviral immune responses by
producing type I interferons (IFNs) upon exposure to enveloped viruses. However, their role
in adaptive immune responses, such as the initiation of antiviral T-cell responses, is not
known. In this study, we examined interactions between blood pDCs and influenza virus with
special attention to the capacity of pDCs to activate influenza-specific T cells. pDCs were
compared with CD11c+ DCs, the most potent antigen-presenting cells (APCs), for their …
producing type I interferons (IFNs) upon exposure to enveloped viruses. However, their role
in adaptive immune responses, such as the initiation of antiviral T-cell responses, is not
known. In this study, we examined interactions between blood pDCs and influenza virus with
special attention to the capacity of pDCs to activate influenza-specific T cells. pDCs were
compared with CD11c+ DCs, the most potent antigen-presenting cells (APCs), for their …
Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) contribute to innate antiviral immune responses by producing type I interferons (IFNs) upon exposure to enveloped viruses. However, their role in adaptive immune responses, such as the initiation of antiviral T-cell responses, is not known. In this study, we examined interactions between blood pDCs and influenza virus with special attention to the capacity of pDCs to activate influenza-specific T cells. pDCs were compared with CD11c+ DCs, the most potent antigen-presenting cells (APCs), for their capacity to activate T-cell responses. We found that like CD11c+ DCs, pDCs mature following exposure to influenza virus, express CCR7, and produce proinflammatory chemokines, but differ in that they produce type I IFN and are resistant to the cytopathic effect of the infection. After influenza virus exposure, both DC types exhibited an equivalent efficiency to expand anti–influenza virus cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and T helper 1 (TH1) CD4+ T cells. Our results pinpoint a new role of pDCs in the induction of antiviral T-cell responses and suggest that these DCs play a prominent role in the adaptive immune response against viruses.
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