In situ analysis reveals physical interactions between CD11b+ dendritic cells and antigen-specific CD4 T cells after subcutaneous injection of antigen

J Immunol. 2002 Sep 1;169(5):2247-52. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.169.5.2247.

Abstract

In situ staining techniques were used to visualize physical interactions between dendritic cell subsets and naive Ag-specific CD4 T cells in the lymph node. Before injection of Ag, CD8(+) dendritic cells and naive OVA-specific CD4 T cells were uniformly distributed throughout the T cell-rich paracortex, whereas CD11b(+) dendritic cells were located mainly in the outer edges of the paracortex near the B cell-rich follicles. Many OVA-specific CD4 T cells were in contact with CD8(+) dendritic cells in the absence of OVA. Within 24 h after s.c. injection of soluble OVA, the OVA-specific CD4 T cells redistributed to the outer paracortex and interacted with CD11b(+), but not CD8(+) dendritic cells. This behavior correlated with the uptake of OVA and the presence of peptide-MHC complexes on the surface of CD11b(+) dendritic cells, and subsequent IL-2 production by the Ag-specific CD4 T cells. These results are consistent with the possibility that CD11b(+) dendritic cells play a central role in the activation of CD4 T cells in response to s.c. Ag.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / transplantation
  • CD8 Antigens / analysis
  • CD8 Antigens / biosynthesis
  • Cell Communication / immunology*
  • Chickens
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology*
  • Dendritic Cells / metabolism
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / administration & dosage
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / immunology*
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / analysis
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / biosynthesis
  • Injections, Subcutaneous
  • Lymph Nodes / cytology
  • Lymph Nodes / immunology
  • Lymph Nodes / metabolism
  • Macrophage-1 Antigen / analysis*
  • Macrophage-1 Antigen / biosynthesis
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, SCID
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Microscopy, Confocal
  • Ovalbumin / administration & dosage*
  • Ovalbumin / immunology
  • Ovalbumin / metabolism
  • Ovalbumin / physiology
  • Peptide Fragments / analysis
  • Peptide Fragments / biosynthesis
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / transplantation

Substances

  • CD8 Antigens
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II
  • I-Ad antigen
  • Macrophage-1 Antigen
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Ovalbumin