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Department of Nephrology, Leiden University Medical Center, The Netherlands
Correspondence: A. M. Woltman, Department of Nephrology, C3-P, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands. E-mail: A.M.Woltman{at}LUMC.nl
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ABSTRACT |
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 TOP ABSTRACT INTRODUCTIONROLE OF DCs IN...DC SUBSETSCURRENT STRATEGIES TO PROMOTE...IMMUNOMODULATORY FACTORS THAT...THERAPEUTIC IMPLICATIONSCONCLUSIONSREFERENCES |
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Key Words: tolerance • immunosuppression • allograft rejection
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INTRODUCTION |
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TOPABSTRACTINTRODUCTIONROLE OF DCs IN...DC SUBSETSCURRENT STRATEGIES TO PROMOTE...IMMUNOMODULATORY FACTORS THAT...THERAPEUTIC IMPLICATIONSCONCLUSIONSREFERENCES |
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DCs reside in nonlymphoid tissues as immature DCs, which are highly adapted for the uptake of antigen via receptor- and nonreceptor-mediated mechanisms and readily degrade antigens in endocytic vesicles to produce antigenic peptides capable of binding to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II. A fundamental aspect of DC function is their capacity to migrate. Under steady-state conditions, migration of DCs from blood to tissues and from tissues to lymph nodes is present but relatively low [10
]. Danger signals enhance the rate of DC migration and also induce maturation of DCs, which decreases their capacity to capture antigen but enables the cells to translocate the immunogenic peptide–MHC complexes in concert with costimulatory molecules to their cell surface [11
12
13
]. The migration of maturing DCs involves a coordinated switch in use and expression of chemokine receptors. The responsiveness to most of the inflammatory chemokines, such as CCL2/monocyte-chemoattractant protein-1, CCL3/macrophage-inflammatory protein-1
(MIP-1), CCL4/MIP-1ß, CCL5/regulated on activation, normal T expressed and secreted, and CCL20/MIP-3, is rapidly lost through receptor down-regulation or receptor desensitization, dependent on autocrine-chemokine production, whereas lymphoid homing receptors, including CCR7, which serves as a receptor for CCL19/MIP-3ß and CCL21/secondary lymphoid tissue chemokine, are up-regulated, which enables the maturing DCs to leave the inflamed tissues, enter the lymphatics, and find responder T cells in the lymph node [13
, 14
]. Upon interaction with antigen-specific T lymphocytes, DC maturation is further completed via engagement of CD40 by its ligand, allowing optimal presentation and T cell activation.
Induction of T cell responses requires T cell receptor (TCR) activation (signal 1) and costimulatory interaction (signal 2) between DCs and T cells [15 , 16 ]. In addition, DCs provide T cells with another signal (signal 3) that determines the differentiation of naive T cells into different T helper (Th) subpopulations [17 ]. Although signal 3 has not been clearly defined, Th-cell polarization is known to be determined at several levels, including the pathogen, the receptor through which the pathogen signals, the DC subset, the microenvironment, and the cytokines released by T cells and other cells in the vicinity.
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ROLE OF DCs IN IMMUNE REGULATION |
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TOPABSTRACTINTRODUCTIONROLE OF DCs IN...DC SUBSETSCURRENT STRATEGIES TO PROMOTE...IMMUNOMODULATORY FACTORS THAT...THERAPEUTIC IMPLICATIONSCONCLUSIONSREFERENCES |
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Autoimmunity is characterized by a loss of tolerance to self-antigens as a result of activation of autoreactive lymphocytes that result in a destructive response directed to single or multiple organs. Although the mechanisms by which autoimmune responses are triggered are not fully understood, DCs seem to play an important role in autoimmunity. Evidence that DCs can be used or manipulated to combat autoimmune diseases has come predominantly from studies in experimental models of type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis [19
, 20
]. Prevention of experimental autoimmune diseases can be achieved by transferring manipulated syngeneic DCs, such as semi-mature tumor necrosis factor (TNF-)-treated DCs, interferon-
(IFN-)-treated DCs, and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4-immunoglobulin (Ig)-treated DCs [21
22
23
].
The role of DCs in organ transplantation is even more complex because of the coexistence of graft-derived DCs from the donor, responsible for direct recognition of foreign antigens by T cells, and DCs from the recipient, responsible for indirect antigen presentation to host T cells [24 25 26 ]. Initially, it was thought that DCs in the allograft were responsible for immunogenicity, which generated the idea that DCs should be eliminated from the graft before transplantation [27 28 29 ]. Although specific elimination of donor-derived DCs seemed to prolong allograft survival in several animal models, it became clear that the situation to obtain sustained graft acceptance is far more complicated. The plasticity of DCs and their role in T cell polarization suggested that donor- and recipient-derived DCs can act as inducers of an immunogeneic or tolerogenic allograft response [30 31 32 ]. The regulatory role of DCs was demonstrated by adoptive transfer of allopeptide-loaded recipient-derived lymphoid and myeloid DCs that were able to prolong cardiac and islet allograft survival in rat transplantation models [33 , 34 ].
Knowing which DC subsets, donor- or recipient-derived, are responsible for specific immune responses and which cytokines or other factors mobilize specific subsets should permit us to use these tools to manipulate the immune response to alloantigens. Therefore, the functional characteristics of the distinct DC populations and their functional modulation by cytokines, immunosuppressive drugs, and other agents will be reviewed in the following pages and will focus primarily, although not exclusively, on inhibition of the immunogenic capacities and enhancement of the tolerogenic capacities of human DCs in the context of organ transplantation.
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DC SUBSETS |
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TOPABSTRACTINTRODUCTIONROLE OF DCs IN...DC SUBSETSCURRENT STRATEGIES TO PROMOTE...IMMUNOMODULATORY FACTORS THAT...THERAPEUTIC IMPLICATIONSCONCLUSIONSREFERENCES |
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into myeloid DCs along two distinct pathways (Fig. 1)
[36
, 37
]. In one, a CD1a+CD14- intermediate gives rise to cells resembling LCs, whereas interstitial DCs arise from a CD1a-CD14+ precursor that can also differentiate into macrophages in the presence of only M-CSF. A generally more convenient source of cells for many experimental procedures is derived from CD11c+CD14+ monocytes. In vitro, CD1a-CD14+ monocytes differentiate into CD1a+CD14- interstitial DCs in the presence of GM-CSF and IL-4 or IL-13 (Fig. 1)
[38
, 39
]. There is accumulating evidence that in vivo monocytes can also differentiate into DCs in an appropriate cytokine microenvironment or by transmigrating through endothelial layers [40
41
42
43
]. The demonstration that LCs can arise from monocytes via a TGF-ß-dependent pathway is controversial and may ultimately reflect the plasticity of DCs [44
, 45
]. Potential LC precursors that express CD14 and the coagulation factor XIIIa have been mobilized from human skin explants and show some DC characteristics but have weak T cell stimulatory potential and could not be differentiated into DCs in vitro [46
]. Recently, a population of CD14+ dermal resident cells lacking factor XIIIa but expressing langerin were identified as potential LC precursors [47
]. LC and interstitial DC subtypes share several markers, but LCs uniquely express Birbeck granules, langerin, and the adhesion molecule E-cadherin, whereas interstitial DCs uniquely express factor XIIIa. LCs and interstitial DCs also share the capacity to activate CD4+ and CD8+ naive T cells and secrete IL-12. Striking differences between LCs and interstitial DCs are the abilities of interstitial DCs but not LCs to take up large amounts of antigens by the mannose receptor, to produce large amounts of IL-10, and to induce differentiation of naive B cells into Ig-secreting plasma cells [48 ].
Human plasmacytoid DCs are found in the T cell zones of lymphoid organs. Plasmacytoid DCs are characterized by a unique phenotype, CD11c-CD123+CD45RA+HLA-DR+, and possess the unique ability to secrete large amounts of IFN-/ß upon viral stimulation [35
]. Unlike LCs and interstitial DCs, CD11c- plasmacytoid DCs, generated from CD34+ HPC or CD11c- blood precursors, lack expression of myeloid antigens and require IL-3 instead of GM-CSF for their differentiation and survival. Plasmacytoid DCs share a common function with LCs and interstitial DCs in having the capacity to activate CD4+ and CD8+ naive T cells.
At least three major subpopulations of DCs have been described in mice: CD4-CD8+, CD4-CD8-, and CD4+CD8- DCs. CD8- DCs, which may be CD4+ or CD4-, express CD11b and were initially considered myeloid DCs [49
]. As CD8+ DCs lack the myeloid marker CD11b and in contrast to the CD8- DC subsets, require IL-3 instead of GM-CSF for differentiation and survival, they were originally thought to arise from a lymphoid-committed progenitor. However, a report by Traver et al. [50
] demonstrated that CD8 on DCs does not indicate a lymphoid origin but rather may reflect a maturation or differentiation status of DCs.
Recently, CD11c+B220+Gr1+ cells were identified as the mouse counterpart of human plasmacytoid DCs. Like human plasmacytoid DCs, B220+ DCs are present in significant numbers in the mouse thymus and express several T cell markers including CD8 and high levels of CD4. In steady state, these B220+ DCs display characteristics of immature-like DCs, and as for human plasmacytoid DCs upon viral stimulation, B220+ DCs produce high levels of IFN-, which is the hallmark of plasmacytoid DCs [51
52
53
54
55
]. Unlike human plasmacytoid DCs, which produce only little IL-12p70, in vitro-generated mouse B220+ DCs clearly produce IL-12p70 in response to CpG oligonucleotides and virus [56
].
Although it was recently shown that plasmacytoid DCs can be generated from mouse bone marrow cultures with fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 ligand [56 ], most in vitro studies using murine DCs are performed with bone marrow-derived myeloid DCs generated in the presence of GM-CSF and LCs cultured from skin explants.
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CURRENT STRATEGIES TO PROMOTE THE TOLEROGENICITY OF DCs |
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TOPABSTRACTINTRODUCTIONROLE OF DCs IN...DC SUBSETSCURRENT STRATEGIES TO PROMOTE...IMMUNOMODULATORY FACTORS THAT...THERAPEUTIC IMPLICATIONSCONCLUSIONSREFERENCES |
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and IL-4. Treg cells suppress Th0, Th1, and Th2 cells via a mechanism that is currently not known, but evidence is growing that these cells are stimulated initially by DCs. Jonuleit et al. [57
] have shown that repetitive in vitro stimulation of allogeneic human T cells with monocyte-derived, immature DCs induced the differentiation of Treg cells. The biological significance of these findings has been highlighted by Dhodapkar et al. [58
], who injected autologous, monocyte-derived, immature DCs, pulsed with influenza peptide, subcutaneously in human volunteers. These volunteers generated an antigen-specific inhibition of CD8+ T cell killing activity and the appearance of peptide-specific IL-10-producing T cells, accompanied by a decrease in the number of IFN--producing T cells. Accordingly, mice pretreated with donor-derived, immature DCs showed prolonged allograft survival in models of pancreatic islet and heart transplantation [59
60
61
]. Based on these findings, one approach to promote the tolerogenicity of DCs is to suppress their maturation by using anti-inflammatory cytokines or pharmacological agents. Another approach is the use of genetically engineered DCs expressing immunosuppressive molecules.
Several molecules have been shown to activate DCs and trigger their transition from immature, antigen-capturing cells to mature, antigen-presenting cells (APC). Mature DCs have the capacity to prime naive T cells, but the type of original maturation signal determines the polarization of T cells. Maturation signals may arise from endogenous processes, particularly those that result in cell necrosis and tissue destruction, such as cellular heat shock proteins, matrix degradation products [62
], and cytokines. Maturation signals can also be derived from foreign substances, including bacterial products, viruses, fungi, and parasites. Molecules derived from pathogens, such as lipopolysaccharides (LPS) [63
], bacterial CpG DNA [64
], and viral dsRNA [65
], as well as T cell signals such as CD40L and IFN-, all promote immature DCs to produce IL-12 and prime for Th1 responses. A common process during this maturation seems to be the activation of the nuclear factor (NF)-
B pathway [66
, 67
]. In contrast, DCs activated in the presence of cyclic adenosine monophosphate-increasing agents, such as prostaglandin E2 [68
], cholera toxin [69
, 70
], histamine [71
, 72
], and ß2-agonists [73
] or parasites [74
], demonstrated increased levels of CD83, MHC, and costimulatory molecules but were not able to produce IL-12, resulting in Th2 polarization upon contact with naive CD4+ T cells.
The capacity of DCs to skew immune reactivity from Th1 to Th2 responses and vice versa is considered as a potential strategy to shift and thereby dampen typical Th1- or Th2-dependent, inflammatory responses. In the context of organ transplantation, this hypothesis was supported by the finding that animals with long-term allograft survival did not show Th1 cytokines [75 76 77 ]. However, studies have failed to show that Th2 polarization actively promotes the development of long-term allograft acceptance or that a Th1 response promotes graft rejection per se [78 , 79 ], which suggests that immune deviation from a Th1 to a Th2 response is not the final solution. The finding that immature DCs might induce tolerogenic responses by the induction of Treg has emphasized the therapeutic potential of DCs that are pharmacologically arrested at an immature state, which means at least that they are unable to up-regulate costimulatory and MHC molecules and cannot secrete IL-12 upon exposure to proinflammatory and T cell-derived signals.
Recently, intermediate stages of DC maturation have also been described, which might have specific regulatory functions as well [23 , 66 ]. It is therefore of critical importance to determine exactly the stage of maturation in which DCs reside after pharmacological interference.
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IMMUNOMODULATORY FACTORS THAT SUPPRESS THE IMMUNOGENICITY OR ENHANCE THE TOLEROGENICITY OF DCs |
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TOPABSTRACTINTRODUCTIONROLE OF DCs IN...DC SUBSETSCURRENT STRATEGIES TO PROMOTE...IMMUNOMODULATORY FACTORS THAT...THERAPEUTIC IMPLICATIONSCONCLUSIONSREFERENCES |
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The immunosuppressive properties of IL-10 on DC differentiation, maturation, and function were much more emphasized by the finding that IL-10-treated monocyte-derived DCs can induce anergic CD4+ and CD8+ T cells [89
, 95
]. These anergic T cells are characterized by an impaired, proliferative capacity and reduced production of IFN- and IL-2 and are able to suppress activation and function of T cells in an antigen-specific manner [96
]. In addition, IL-10-treated LCs were found to induce antigen-specific tolerance in Th1 but not in Th2 cell clones [97
].
Although IL-10-treated DCs have not been investigated yet for the induction of antigen-specific transplant tolerance, it has been shown that portal vein infusion of mouse bone marrow-derived DCs, engineered to express IL-10, prolongs renal allograft survival [98 ].
TGF-ß
TGF-ß is another immunosuppressive cytokine. Endogenously produced TGF-ß has shown to be required for the development of LCs and non-LCs from CD34+ HPC in vitro through protecting progenitor cells from apoptosis [99
] or induction of DC progenitor proliferation and differentiation. Addition of exogenous TGF-ß polarized the differentiation of CD34+-derived CD14+ precursors toward LCs. Although conflicting hypotheses exist about monocytes as LC blood precursors [44
, 45
], it has been shown that monocytes cultured in the presence of TGF-ß, GM-CSF, and IL-4 also differentiated toward LC-like cells, as demonstrated by their phenotypic and functional characteristics (Fig. 2)
. TGF-ß-induced LCs differentiated from monocytes or CD34+ HPC, express the typical LC markers E-cadherin, Birbeck-granules, Lag, and cutaneous lymphocyte-associated antigen [45
, 100
], and express functional CCR-6 [101
]. In addition, they neither secreted IL-10 upon stimulation nor stimulated the differentiation of CD40-activated, naïve B cells. In contrast to its favorable effect on LC differentiation, TGF-ß prevents LC maturation in response to TNF-, IL-1, and LPS [102
]. However, TGF-ß cannot inhibit CD40L-induced up-regulation of costimulatory and MHC molecules or production of IL-12 [102
]. Another striking finding is that TGF-ß is able to inhibit antigen presentation by GM-CSF-stimulated APC propagated from human bone marrow [103
] and by cultured LCs but not by freshly isolated LCs [104
].
Thus, TGF-ß seems to skew the differentiation of hematopoietic precursors toward LCs, which are hampered in their final maturation. The fact that TGF-ß increases expression of CCR-1, -3, -5, and -6 and CXCR-4 on monocyte-derived LC-like cells and blocks TNF--induced up-regulation of CCR-7 [105
] also suggests a role for TGF-ß in the chemotaxis of DCs.
The ability of TGF-ß to inhibit the antigen-presenting capacity and possibly also its influence on DC trafficking might explain its contribution to prolonged allograft survival in animal models treated with TGF-ß [106 , 107 ], DCs transduced to express TGF-ß [98 , 108 ], or DCs generated in the presence of TGF-ß [109 ].
IL-6
Although the effect of IL-6 administration on allograft survival has not been extensively studied, it has been shown that IL-6 delays skin graft rejection in mice [110
]. Only a few studies describe the direct effect of IL-6 on the differentiation of human DCs in vitro. IL-6 switches the differentiation of CD34+ progenitors and monocytes from DCs toward macrophages (Fig. 2) [111
112
113
]. Although contradictory results exist regarding the role of M-CSF as an intermediate in the inhibitory effect of IL-6 on DC development, it seems that IL-6 exerts its effect via up-regulation of functional M-CSF receptors. This up-regulation of M-CSF receptors allows the precursor cells to consume and respond to their autocrine-produced M-CSF, which subsequently drives the cells toward macrophage development [112
, 113
].
Immunosuppressive drugs
Corticosteroids
Corticosteroids are among the most potent immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory drugs currently available and are efficacious in the treatment of Th1- and Th2-associated inflammatory diseases, including allograft rejection, rheumatoid arthritis, and asthma [114
]. The therapeutic effects of corticosteroids were initially ascribed to the strong inhibitory effect on T cells. At the moment, it is obvious that APC are also strongly affected by corticosteroids. It has been demonstrated that corticosteroids down-regulate the production of proinflammatory cytokines by monocytes and macrophages. More recently, corticosteroids were found to significantly affect DCs. Mice treated with the glucocorticoid dexamethasone (Dex) demonstrated relatively decreased splenic DC numbers and increased splenic macrophage numbers [115
]. This shift in the myeloid cellular compartment of the spleen upon Dex treatment can be caused by effects on migration, induction of apoptosis, or by an altered differentiation process of myeloid progenitor cells. In addition, glucocorticoid administration to rhesus macaques changed DC subsets in lymph nodes [116
], and treatment of healthy volunteers with glucocorticoids reduced the circulating numbers of plasmacytoid DCs in blood [117
], which can again be the result of multiple processes as described above. Strong indications for corticosteroid-induced apoptosis in vivo were found in rats treated with Dex. These animals showed decreased numbers of airway DCs preceded and accompanied by an increase in apoptotic cells [118
]. However, contradictory results exist regarding the effect of corticosteroids on the survival of human DCs in vitro. Kim et al. [119
] demonstrated that corticosteroids induce caspase-independent apoptosis in immature, monocyte-derived DCs, whereas several other studies describing the effect on monocyte-derived DCs did not find any apparent apoptosis [120
121
122
].
One consistent finding is the inhibitory effect of corticosteroids on the development of immature DCs from monocytes (Fig. 2)
. We have found that addition of corticosteroids to monocyte cultures for as little as the first 48 h completely prevented normal DC development upon a 7-day culture period in GM-CSF and IL-4 (Fig. 3
) [122
]. The corticosteroid-treated cells retain a monocyte/macrophage phenotype with high CD14 expression and no expression of CD1a, as a typical DC marker [122
123
124
], but also lack expression of CD68, as one of the typical macrophage markers [123
]. Corticosteroid treatment increased the endocytic and pinocytic activity of the cells, partially as a result of an up-regulation of mannose receptors [123
, 125
]. Furthermore, these cells were strongly hampered in their T cell stimulatory capacity [122
, 123
], which could be explained by an impaired up-regulation of costimulatory and MHC molecules upon stimulation with proinflammatory cytokines, LPS or CD40L, and a reduced production of proinflammatory cytokines, including IL-6, TNF-, IL-1ß, and IL-12 [122
, 123
].
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, whereas the production of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 was supported by corticosteroid treatment [126
, 127
]. Comparable with the studies published on the inhibitory effects of IL-10 on DC maturation, corticosteroids strongly inhibit maturation induced by LPS [121
, 127
, 128
], haptens [129
], and proinflammatory cytokines [120
, 123
, 128
, 130
] but demonstrate differential effects ranging from complete to no inhibition on CD40L-induced maturation [121
, 123
, 126
, 128
]. In addition, lung DCs exposed to corticosteroids ex vivo demonstrated a hampered allostimulatory capacity and reduced expression levels of costimulatory molecules [131
].
Next to the effect on monocyte-derived DCs, we have also described the effect of corticosteroids on the differentiation of interstitial DCs and LCs from CD34+ HPC [132
]. Addition of glucocorticoids to the cultures of CD34+ HPC containing GM-CSF, TNF-, and stem cell factor prevented the development of CD14-derived interstitial DCs by specific induction of apoptosis in CD14+–DC precursors and blockade of spontaneous and IL-4-induced differentiation of CD14+–DC precursors into fully differentiated CD1a+ interstitial DCs, which can be compared with the inhibitory effect of corticosteroids on the differentiation of monocytes into DCs.
The effect of corticosteroids on differentiation and function of LCs has been scarcely described. In vivo studies suggested a direct effect of corticosteroids on LCs, as topical steroid therapy decreased the number of LCs in skin [133
134
135
] and nasal epithelium [136
137
138
] and almost completely inhibited the influx of LCs during allergen provocation [139
, 140
]. However, the mechanism by which corticosteroids alter the distribution of LCs is not known. It has been shown that LC numbers in the epidermis are modulated by cytokines such as GM-CSF and TNF-, which are produced by keratinocytes [141
]. As corticosteroids block the production of cytokines and chemokines by keratinocytes [142
], the regulation of LC numbers upon corticosteroid treatment might reflect an indirect effect via an inhibitory effect on neighboring cells. Furthermore, LCs still present in topical steroid-treated skin were shown to exhibit normal, alloantigen-presenting capacities [134
]. In line with these observations, the development and function, including IL-12 production and T cell stimulation, of LCs generated from CD34+ HPC were not influenced by corticosteroids [132
].
Vitamin D3 and its analogs
1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3], the biologically active metabolite of vitamin D3, is a steroid hormone that not only regulates bone and calcium/phosphate metabolism but also exerts a number of other biological activities, including modulation of the immune response via specific receptors expressed in APC and activated T cells. Immunosuppression by 1,25(OH)2D3 and its analogs has been demonstrated to prolong the survival of cardiac [143
, 144
] and small bowel [145
] allografts in animal models and has been reported to inhibit not only acute but also chronic allograft rejection [146
].
As already documented for IL-10 and corticosteroids, 1,25(OH)2D3 is another immunosuppressive compound that blocks the differentiation of monocytes into functional, immature DCs (Fig. 2)
[83
, 147
148
149
]. The addition of 1,25(OH)2D3 or the nonhypercalcemic analog TX527 to monocyte cultures gives rise to the development of CD14highCD1alow cells with dendritic morphology but without the capacity to stimulate allogeneic T cells or antigen-specific T cell lines [147
148
149
150
], apparently as a result of their inability to up-regulate costimulatory and MHC molecules upon contact with T cells, as suggested by the impaired response to CD40L, TNF-, or LPS in vitro [147
, 149
, 150
]. When only present during maturation, 1,25(OH)2D3 was found to inhibit hapten- [129
], LPS-, and CD40L-induced maturation of monocyte-derived DCs, as demonstrated by an impaired up-regulation of costimulatory and MHC molecules and a diminished capacity to stimulate allogeneic T cells (Fig. 2)
[83
, 147
] and promoted DC apoptosis [83
]. Coculture of alloreactive CD4 T cells with 1,25(OH)2D3-treated DCs resulted in T cell hyporesponsiveness, as demonstrated by their reduced IFN- secretion upon restimulation by untreated, mature DCs in a second MLR [83
].
Whether 1,25(OH)2D3 also affects LCs is debatable. In vivo and in vitro treatment of human LCs with 1,25(OH)2D3 or its analog calcipotriol did not change the expression of MHC class II antigens [151 , 152 ]. Treatment of cultured epidermal cells with 1,25(OH)2D3 or calcipotriol resulted in LCs with a reduced capacity to stimulate T cells [151 , 152 ], but this might be secondary to its inhibitory effects on keratinocytes, which produce GM-CSF required for LC maturation [153 ]. In addition to its effect on LC function, conflicting results exist regarding the effect on LC numbers present in the skin upon treatment with calcipotriol [151 , 153 ].
Calcineurin inhibitors
Cyclosporine A (CsA) and FK506 (tacrolimus) belong to the family of calcineurin inhibitors and have proved to be potent immunosuppressive drugs. They are widely used as primary maintenance immunosuppression after transplantation by virtue of their strong inhibitory effect on T cells. CsA and FK506 in complex with their intracellular receptors, cyclophilins and FK506-binding proteins (FKBPs), respectively, bind and inhibit the activation of calcineurin phosphatase [154
]. Calcineurin appears to play a crucial role in the transduction of T cell calcium-dependent signaling events following TCR triggering, including transcription of IL-2 and several other cytokine genes [155
156
157
]. Although CsA and FK506 possess similar mechanisms of action, FK506 is 50–100 times more potent than CsA in inhibiting T cell activation in vitro.
A direct effect of calcineurin inhibitors on the function of DCs has been a matter of controversy for several years. Experiments have been performed using mainly monocyte-derived DCs and LCs. As analysis of APC function requires the presence of T cells, which are very sensitive to CsA and even more so to FK506, the major problem lies in the possibility of CsA or FK506 carryover from DCs after treatment with the drugs. That DCs can function as a potential reservoir of drugs was confirmed by the finding that DCs contain FK506 in their intracellular compartments after exposure to the drug [122
], which can be secreted into the supernatants [122
, 158
]. In vitro studies with monocyte-derived DCs revealed that calcineurin inhibitors, when present during differentiation, reduce the production of TNF- induced by LPS, Staphylococcal enterotoxin B, or CD40L [122
, 159
]. No significant changes were observed in the expression of costimulatory and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) molecules upon culture with physiological concentrations of CsA or FK506 [122
, 129
, 159
]. The lack of effect on the expression of costimulatory and HLA molecules supports the hypothesis that the reduced T cell proliferation found in allogeneic MLRs with CsA or FK506-treated DCs is a result of a carryover effect of the drugs.
Only one study described the effect of calcineurin inhibitors on CD34-derived DCs. The presence of FK506 supported the generation of CD1a+ DCs without affecting the expression of costimulatory and HLA molecules [160 ]. Also, this study claimed a decreased T cell stimulatory capacity of FK506-treated DCs, but the authors did not exclude a carryover effect.
As for monocyte-derived DCs, conflicting results are published regarding the effect of CsA and FK506 on LCs. LCs isolated from normal skin derived from psoriasis patients treated with CsA displayed a reduced ability to stimulate T cells [161 ], which can be the result of a direct and indirect effect of the drug on the function of LCs. Also, ex vivo treatment of LCs seemed to reduce T cell stimulatory capacity [104 , 162 , 163 ], but as demonstrated by Peguet-Navarro et al. [158 ], this might be caused by carryover. Although several studies demonstrate a lack of effect of systemically or topically applied calcineurin inhibitors on the number of LCs in human skin [164 165 166 167 ], there might be an effect on other epidermal DC populations [166 , 167 ].
Other immunosuppressive drugs
Relatively new immunosuppressive drugs, such as sirolimus (rapamycin, Rapa), mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), leflunomide, FTY720, and CAMPATH antibodies, used to prevent acute and chronic allograft rejection, were also all developed to interfere with the function of lymphocytes. Although "promising" results are obtained with these immunosuppressive drugs with respect to allograft survival, and the major role for DCs in the induction and amplification of immune responses is recognized, very little is known about their effects on DCs.
Rapa, an immunosuppressive drug introduced by virtue of its antiproliferative effect on T lymphocytes [168 ], seems to be effective in preventing allograft rejection [169 , 170 ]. Rapa is structurally related to FK506, and it binds to and competes with FK506 for the same immunophilin FKBP-12. However, only the Rapa–FKBP12 complex binds and inhibits the function of the serine/threonine kinase mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) [171 , 172 ]. In addition to its suppressive effect on lymphocytes, we have found that Rapa induces apoptosis in monocyte-derived DCs and CD34-derived DCs without any special preference for LCs or non-LCs [173 ]. It is interesting that Rapa does not interfere with the survival of other APC such as monocytes and macrophages. Rapa seems to specifically interfere with GM-CSF signaling at the level of mTOR, which we have recently shown to be a critical kinase in the survival mechanism of monocyte-derived DCs but does not play a role in the survival of monocytes and macrophages [174 ]. In contrast to these human in vitro studies, Rapa does not induce apoptosis in murine bone marrow-derived DCs but does inhibit macropinocytosis and mannose receptor-mediated endocytosis by these murine DCs [175 ].
MMF is most commonly used as adjunct therapy in combination with calcineurin inhibitors and corticosteroids. MMF is a prodrug for mycophenolic acid (MPA) [176 ], which is a reversible inhibitor of inosine 5'-monophosphate dehydrogenase [177 ]. This is the rate-limiting enzyme in the de novo synthesis of purines. As proliferation of activated lymphocytes, unlike most other cell types, relies on the de novo purine synthesis, with a minor contribution of the salvage pathway, MPA selectively inhibits proliferation of T and B lymphocytes [176 ]. In addition, MPA decreases the intracellular guanine nucleotide pools, which hamper the glycosylation of membrane glycoproteins leading to less effective adhesion molecules (selectins) [178 ]. Although human studies describing the effect of MMF on DCs are lacking, it has been shown that MMF decreases the ability of mouse bone marrow-derived DCs to stimulate T cells in MLR. Accordingly, MMF-treated DCs demonstrated a decreased expression of costimulatory and adhesion molecules with a concurrent reduction of IL-12 production [179 ]. Moreover, mice treated with MMF in combination with 1,25(OH)2D3 developed transferable tolerance toward fully mismatched islet allografts [180 ].
Leflunomide is another immunosuppressive drug that inhibits T and B cell proliferation by inhibiting an enzyme in the de novo pathway. In vivo, leflunomide is rapidly converted to the metabolite A77 1726 that inhibits dihydro-orotate dehydrogenase, which is a rate-limiting enzyme for pyrimidine synthesis. Like MMF, leflunomide shows antiproliferative and antiadhesive effects. Although the migration of DCs might be influenced by in vivo administration of leflunomide [181 ], direct effects of this immunosuppressive drug on the function of DCs remain to be elucidated.
FTY720 is a recently introduced immunosuppressive drug used to prevent allograft rejection [182 , 183 ]. FTY720 modulates the lymphocyte chemotactic response to chemokines, which results in increased homing of lymphocytes to secondary lymphatic organs and prevention of recruitment of effector lymphocytes to the allograft without impairment of immune responses to systemic infection [184 185 186 ]. Whether FTY720 also affects the migration of DCs is not known yet.
The CAMPATH series of monoclonal antibodies recognizes CD52, a phophatidylinositol-linked antigen, and is recently introduced in the field of transplantation. CD52 is highly expressed on lymphocytes, monocytes, and blood DCs and is a good target for cell lysis by antibody with human complement. Peripheral blood myeloid DCs are depleted after treatment with CAMPATH antibodies in vivo [187 , 188 ]. Tissue DCs and mature monocyte-derived DCs do not express CD52 and are therefore unlikely to be depleted by these antibodies [188 ].
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THERAPEUTIC IMPLICATIONS |
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TOPABSTRACTINTRODUCTIONROLE OF DCs IN...DC SUBSETSCURRENT STRATEGIES TO PROMOTE...IMMUNOMODULATORY FACTORS THAT...THERAPEUTIC IMPLICATIONSCONCLUSIONSREFERENCES |
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Proinflammatory signals, including CD40L, LPS, IL-1, TNF-, CpG, and haptens, which are responsible for DC maturation, are known to signal via NF-B. The NF-B family includes inducible transcription factors regulating the expression of many genes involved in inflammation, including cytokines, chemokines, and adhesion, and costimulatory molecules [190
]. Several studies have demonstrated that NF-B is activated in mature DCs [191
], but this in itself did not show the critical role of the transcription factor. Mice studies demonstrated the pivotal role for RelB in the development of myeloid CD8- DCs [192
, 193
]. Studies specifically blocking the activity of NF-B in DCs by transfection of decoy double-stranded oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) containing consensus NF-B-binding sites [194
, 195
] or by adenoviral delivery of I-B [196
] demonstrated the pivotal role for NF-B in the induction of T cell proliferation in MLR, the development of regulatory T cells, and the production of IL-12 by DCs [197
, 198
]. Furthermore, administration of NF-B decoy ODN-transduced, donor-derived DCs showed a significant prolongation of organ allograft survival [194
].
In addition, mouse studies demonstrated that distinct NF-B subunits have specific functions in the regulation of DC development, survival, and cytokine production [199
]. Therefore, the observation that IL-10, corticosteroids, and 1,25(OH)2D3, as described in the current review, and aspirin [200
201
202
], N-acetyl-L-cysteine [203
], and vascular endothelial growth factor [204
] inhibit DC development and maturation is not very surprising, as these compounds are thought to exert their anti-inflammatory effects through inhibition of NF-B.
Genetic engineering of donor- or recipient-derived DCs, using viral vectors as was done for IL-10 [91
92
93
94
] and TGF-ß [93
, 108
] or nonviral vectors as was done for NF-B inhibition [194
, 195
], has shown promising results. For optimal allogeneic T cell hyporesponsiveness, it might be worthwhile to coadminister costimulation blocking agents to potentiate the tolerogenic capacities of modified DCs, as was demonstrated in several animal models [109
, 189
, 195
].
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TOPABSTRACTINTRODUCTIONROLE OF DCs IN...DC SUBSETSCURRENT STRATEGIES TO PROMOTE...IMMUNOMODULATORY FACTORS THAT...THERAPEUTIC IMPLICATIONSCONCLUSIONSREFERENCES |
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Received September 5, 2002; accepted November 4, 2002.
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REFERENCES |
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TOPABSTRACTINTRODUCTIONROLE OF DCs IN...DC SUBSETSCURRENT STRATEGIES TO PROMOTE...IMMUNOMODULATORY FACTORS THAT...THERAPEUTIC IMPLICATIONSCONCLUSIONSREFERENCES |
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), whereas addition of TGF-ß can induce LC development. The presence of corticosteroids, IL-10, or vitamin D3 analogs during differentiation induces the development of macrophage-like cells that still contain some DC-specific characteristics (DC/m