Human keratinocyte induction of rapid effector function in antigen-specific memory CD4+ and CD8+ T cells

Eur J Immunol. 2007 Jun;37(6):1485-93. doi: 10.1002/eji.200636915.

Abstract

The ability of human keratinocytes to present antigen to T cells is controversial and, indeed, it has been suggested that keratinocytes may promote T cell hyporesponsiveness. Furthermore, it is unclear whether keratinocytes can process antigen prior to MHC class I and class II presentation. We tested the ability of keratinocytes to induce functional responses in epitope-specific CD4+ and CD8+ memory T cells using peptides, protein and recombinant expression vectors as sources of antigen. Keratinocytes were able to efficiently process and present protein antigen to CD4+ T cells, resulting in cytokine secretion (Th1 and Th2). This interaction was dependent on keratinocyte expression of HLA class II and ICAM-1, which could be induced by IFN-gamma. In addition, keratinocytes could present virally encoded or exogenous peptide to CD8+ T cells, resulting in T cell cytokine production and target cell lysis. Finally, T cell lines grown using keratinocytes as stimulators showed no loss of function. These findings demonstrate that keratinocytes are able to efficiently process and present antigen to CD4+ and CD8+ memory T cells and induce functional responses. The findings have broad implications for the pathogenesis of cutaneous disease and for transcutaneous drug or vaccine delivery.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / immunology
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / pharmacology
  • Antigen Presentation / drug effects
  • Antigen Presentation / immunology*
  • Antigens, Dermatophagoides / immunology
  • Arthropod Proteins
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • B7-1 Antigen / metabolism
  • B7-2 Antigen / metabolism
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Line, Transformed
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cysteine Endopeptidases
  • Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / drug effects
  • Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / immunology
  • HLA-D Antigens / metabolism
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / metabolism
  • Interferon gamma Receptor
  • Interferon-gamma / metabolism
  • Interferon-gamma / pharmacology
  • Interleukin-4 / metabolism
  • Keratinocytes / cytology
  • Keratinocytes / immunology*
  • Keratinocytes / metabolism
  • Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1 / immunology
  • Oligopeptides / immunology
  • Parvovirus / immunology
  • Phosphoproteins / immunology
  • Receptors, Interferon / metabolism
  • Trans-Activators / immunology
  • Viral Proteins / immunology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antigens, Dermatophagoides
  • Arthropod Proteins
  • B7-1 Antigen
  • B7-2 Antigen
  • CD86 protein, human
  • HLA-D Antigens
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I
  • Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1
  • Oligopeptides
  • Phosphoproteins
  • Receptors, Interferon
  • SM protein, Human herpesvirus 4
  • Trans-Activators
  • Viral Proteins
  • glycyl-leucyl-cysteinyl-threonyl-leucyl-valyl-alanyl-methionyl-leucine
  • Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1
  • Interleukin-4
  • Interferon-gamma
  • Cysteine Endopeptidases
  • Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus antigen p 1