Differential uptake of three clinically relevant allergens by human plasmacytoid dendritic cells

Background: Human plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC) have a dual role as interferon-producing and antigen-presenting cells. Their relevance for allergic diseases is controversial. and the impact of pDC on allergic immune responses is poorly understood.

Methods: This in vitro study on human pDC isolated from peripheral blood was designed to compare side by side the uptake of three clinically relevant representative allergens: fluorochrome-labeled house dust mite Der p 1, Bee venom extract from Apis mellifera (Api) and the food allergen OVA analyzed flow cytometry and confocal microscopy.

Results: We found that the internalization and its regulation by TLR9 ligation was significantly different between allergens in terms of time course and strength of uptake. Api and OVA uptake in pDC of healthy subjects was faster and reached higher levels than Der p 1 uptake. CpG ODN 2006 suppressed OVA uptake and to a lesser extent Der p 1, while Api internalization was not affected. All allergens colocalized with LAMP1 and EEA1, with Api being internalized particularly fast and reaching highest intracellular levels in pDC. Of note, we could not determine any specific differences in antigen uptake in allergic compared with healthy subjects.

Conclusions: To our knowledge this is the first study that directly compares uptake regulation of clinically relevant inhalative, injective and food allergens in pDC. Our findings may help to explain differences in the onset and severity of allergic reactions as well as in the efficiency of AIT.