Submit a Letter to the Editor for:
T Kitajima, K Ariizumi, P R Bergstresser, A Takashima
J Clin Invest. 1996;
98(1):142
doi:10.1172/JCI118759
Abstract |
Full text
|
PDF

W
orking with the murine epidermal-derived dendritic cell (DC) line XS52, we have observed previously that antigen-specific interaction with T cells stimulates their "terminal maturation" into fully professional DC. In this study we examined the impact of dexamethasone (DEX) on this T cell-induced event. When added to cocultures of XS52 DC and the KLH-specific Th1 clone HDK-1 in the presence of antigen, DEX at relatively low concentrations (10(-9)-10(-7) M) prevented substantially or completely each of the changes that typify terminal maturation, including (a) secretion of relatively large amounts of IL-1beta, IL-6, and TNFalpha; (b) loss of CD115 (colony-stimulating factor-1 receptor) expression and proliferative responsiveness to colony-stimulating factor-1; and (c) elevated expression of CD86 (B7-2). XS52 cells also underwent terminal maturation upon exposure to lipopolysaccharide alone, and DEX also inhibited effectively each of the same changes, indicating that DC can serve as the direct target of DEX. By contrast, DEX inhibited XS52 DC-stimulated IL-2 secretion by HDK-1 T cells, but not other changes that accompany T cell activation, including the secretion of IFNgamma and TNFalpha and the elevated expression of CD25, CD28, and CD44. These results reveal a new immunosuppressive mechanism of glucocorticoid action, that is, direct inhibition of T cell-mediated terminal maturation by DC.
Guidelines:
The Editorial Board will only consider letters that we deem relevant and of interest to our readers. We will not post data that have not been subjected to peer review, nor will we post letters that are essentially a reiteration of another letter. All accepted letters will be posted on our website within one week of acceptance. The Editors reserve the right to edit any letter for length, content, and clarity. Authors of all accepted letters will be asked to preview any changes. Authors will be notified by e-mail if their letters were not accepted. As this is a final decision, no appeals will be considered.
Specific requirements: All letters must be 400 words or fewer. You may enter the letter as plain text or HTML, if you wish. The author's name and e-mail address are required, and will be posted with the letter. All possible conflicts of interest must be noted, even if they are not posted. If you wish to include a figure (keep in mind that non-peer-reviewed data will not be posted), please contact the editor directly at editors@the-jci.org.