IFN-gamma enables cross-presentation of exogenous protein antigen in human Langerhans cells by potentiating maturation

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2004 Oct 5;101(40):14467-72. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0405947101. Epub 2004 Sep 21.

Abstract

We compared monocyte-derived dendritic cells and transforming growth factor-beta1-induced Langerhans-like cells (LCs) for their capacity to cross-present exogenous NY-ESO-1 protein/antibody immune complexes to an NY-ESO-1-specific CD8+ T cell clone. In contrast to dendritic cells, LCs were not able to cross-present NY-ESO-1 to the T cell clone constitutively but did so after treatment with IFN-gamma. Remarkably, this IFN-gamma-inducible characteristic was due neither to enhanced antigen uptake nor to facilitated antigen processing in LCs. Rather, IFN-gamma acted at least in part by potentiating the maturation of otherwise refractory LCs, enabling in turn exogenous antigen to reach the processing machinery. This model of conditional cross-presentation establishes an original level of action for IFN-gamma as an effective immune modulator and supports the use of IFN-gamma in protein vaccination strategies targeting LCs.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Antigen Presentation / drug effects
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / genetics
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / immunology
  • Cell Differentiation / drug effects
  • Cell Line
  • Dendritic Cells / cytology
  • Dendritic Cells / drug effects
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology
  • HLA-A Antigens / metabolism
  • HLA-A2 Antigen
  • Humans
  • Interferon-gamma / pharmacology*
  • Langerhans Cells / cytology
  • Langerhans Cells / drug effects*
  • Langerhans Cells / immunology*
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / immunology
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Phenotype
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Signal Transduction
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / pharmacology
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1

Substances

  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • CTAG1B protein, human
  • HLA-A Antigens
  • HLA-A*02:01 antigen
  • HLA-A2 Antigen
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • TGFB1 protein, human
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1
  • Interferon-gamma