Dendritic cells activate autologous T cells and induce IL-4 and IL-10 production in myasthenia gravis

J Neuroimmunol. 2004 Nov;156(1-2):163-70. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2004.04.021.

Abstract

Dendritic cells (DC), as initiators and orchestrators of immune responses, control both naive and primed T cell responses. Depending on their maturation stage, DC promote immunity or tolerance. Here we investigated (1) the phenotype and cytokine secretion patterns of IL-10-modulated immature DC (IL-10-DC) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-driven mature DC (LPS-DC) in comparison with unmodulated immature DC (imDC) and (2) the effects of IL-10-DC, and of LPS-DC, vs. imDC on autologous T cell responses in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) compared with healthy controls (HC). All three types of DC derived from MG significantly increased the levels of CD4+CD25+ T cells and of their subfraction expressing CD69, when compared to DC derived from HC. IL-10-DC induced production of IL-10 and IL-4 by T cells from MG patients, but only IL-10 production from HC. LPS-DC activated autologous T cells as reflected by augmented CD25, CD69 and CTLA-4 expression on CD4+ T cells, without differences between MG and HC. This was associated with increased production of both Th1 (IFN-gamma) and Th2 (IL-10 and IL-4) cytokines by T cells. These results indicate that DC-induced activation of autologous T cells is more pronounced in MG than in HC. In addition, DC-induced T cell responses in MG vs. HC are more Th2-prone.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology*
  • Dendritic Cells / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-10 / biosynthesis*
  • Interleukin-4 / biosynthesis*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Myasthenia Gravis / immunology*
  • Myasthenia Gravis / metabolism*
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism*

Substances

  • Interleukin-10
  • Interleukin-4