Publication: MHC class II-restricted antigen presentation by plasmacytoid dendritic cells inhibits T cell-mediated autoimmunity.

Published in: J Exp Med 2010 Aug; 207(9): 1891-905

Authors: Irla M, Küpfer N, Suter T, Lissilaa R, Benkhoucha M, Skupsky J, Lalive PH, Fontana A, Reith W, Hugues S

Summary

Although plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) express major histocompatibility complex class II (MHCII) molecules, and can capture, process, and present antigens (Ags), direct demonstrations that they function as professional Ag-presenting cells (APCs) in vivo during ongoing immune responses remain lacking. We demonstrate that mice exhibiting a selective abrogation of MHCII expression by pDCs develop exacerbated experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) as a consequence of enhanced priming of encephalitogenic CD4(+) T cell responses in secondary lymphoid tissues. After EAE induction, pDCs are recruited to lymph nodes and establish MHCII-dependent myelin-Ag-specific contacts with CD4(+) T cells. These interactions promote the selective expansion of myelin-Ag-specific natural regulatory T cells that dampen the autoimmune T cell response. pDCs thus function as APCs during the course of EAE and confer a natural protection against autoimmune disease development that is mediated directly by their ability to present of Ags to CD4(+) T cells in vivo.

Link to Pubmed [PMID] – 20696698

Link to DOI – 10.1084/jem.20092627