Interleukin 15 skews monocyte differentiation into dendritic cells with features of Langerhans cells

M Mohamadzadeh, F Berard, G Essert… - The Journal of …, 2001 - rupress.org
M Mohamadzadeh, F Berard, G Essert, C Chalouni, B Pulendran, J Davoust, G Bridges…
The Journal of experimental medicine, 2001rupress.org
Langerhans cells (LCs) represent a subset of immature dendritic cells (DCs) specifically
localized in the epidermis and other mucosal epithelia. As surrounding keratinocytes can
produce interleukin (IL)-15, a cytokine that utilizes IL-2Rγ chain, we analyzed whether IL-15
could skew monocyte differentiation into LCs. Monocytes cultured for 6 d with granulocyte/
macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and IL-15 differentiate into CD1a+ HLA-
DR+ CD14− DCs (IL15-DCs). Agents such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS), tumor necrosis …
Langerhans cells (LCs) represent a subset of immature dendritic cells (DCs) specifically localized in the epidermis and other mucosal epithelia. As surrounding keratinocytes can produce interleukin (IL)-15, a cytokine that utilizes IL-2Rγ chain, we analyzed whether IL-15 could skew monocyte differentiation into LCs. Monocytes cultured for 6 d with granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and IL-15 differentiate into CD1a+HLA-DR+CD14DCs (IL15-DCs). Agents such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)α, and CD40L induce maturation of IL15-DCs to CD83+, DC-LAMP+ cells. IL15-DCs are potent antigen-presenting cells able to induce the primary (mixed lymphocyte reaction [MLR]) and secondary (recall responses to flu-matrix peptide) immune responses. As opposed to cultures made with GM-CSF/IL-4 (IL4-DCs), a proportion of IL15-DCs expresses LC markers: E-Cadherin, Langerin, and CC chemokine receptor (CCR)6. Accordingly, IL15-DCs, but not IL4-DCs, migrate in response to macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-3α/CCL20. However, IL15-DCs cannot be qualified as “genuine” Langerhans cells because, despite the presence of the 43-kD Langerin, they do not express bona fide Birbeck granules. Thus, our results demonstrate a novel pathway in monocyte differentiation into dendritic cells.
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