Role of dendritic cells in the priming of CD4+ T lymphocytes to peptide antigen in vivo

J Immunol. 1993 Dec 15;151(12):6742-50.

Abstract

The contribution of dendritic cells (DC) in the initial priming of CD4+ T lymphocytes in vivo was examined. To assess the capacity of different APC to prime CD4+ T cells, a series of MHC class II I-E transgenic mice that differentially express I-E on APC were utilized. Transgenic mice that express I-E primarily on DC, on macrophages, and on B cells were primed with an I-E restricted peptide in vivo, and the extent of priming was determined by restimulation of CD4+ T cells in vitro with the same Ag. The results indicate that DC are required for priming of CD4+ T cells, and that the extent of priming correlates with the frequency of I-E+ DC. Moreover, DC alone can serve as APC for the peptide Ag, in that priming can be restored in an I-E negative mouse by the transfer of peptide-pulsed I-E+ DC. The potency of DC, compared with B cells and macrophages, to prime naive CD4+ T cells was confirmed with in vitro studies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigen Presentation
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Cell Communication / immunology
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology*
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II* / genetics
  • Immunotherapy, Adoptive
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Macrophages / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Peptides / immunology*

Substances

  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II
  • I-E-antigen
  • Peptides