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Dendritic cells signal T cells in the absence of exogenous antigen

Nature Immunology volume 2, pages 932–938 (2001)Cite this article

Abstract

Interactions with self–major histocompatibility complex molecules on dendritic cells (DCs) are important for the survival of mature CD4+ T cells. We have followed the DC-mediated signal from the T cell surface to the nucleus and identified a pattern of activation that correlates with increased in vitro survival. This response is induced exclusively by DCs and is likely associated with a modulation of the T cell activation threshold. We have also found that DC-mediated activation results in antigen-independent cytokine gene expression, which points to a new role for DCs in shaping the cytokine milieu. Such antigen-independent activation of T cells may play a role in protective immunity, but may also induce and perpetuate autoimmune states such as multiple sclerosis.

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Figure 1: Characterization of cytokine-induced DCs.
Figure 2: Unpulsed cytokine-induced DCs were able to induce weak proliferation of T cell clones.
Figure 3: Effect of DCs on survival of T cell clones. Kinetic analysis.
Figure 4: DCs induced signs of activation in T cell clones.
Figure 5: DCs induced signs of activation in other T cell lines.
Figure 6: DCs induced a unique pattern of signal transduction in the absence of antigen.
Figure 7: DCs induce modification of gene expression.

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Acknowledgements

We thank H. McFarland for critical reading of the manuscript. K. P. W. was supported by a grant from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Wa 1343/1-1).

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Author notes

  1. Takayuki Kondo and Irene Cortese: These authors contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cellular Immunology Section, Neuroimmunology Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, 20892-1400, MD, USA

    Takayuki Kondo, Irene Cortese, Silva Markovic-Plese, Klaus-Peter Wandinger & Roland Martin

  2. Department of Transfusion Medicine, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, 20892, MD, USA

    Charles Carter & Susan Leitman

  3. Experimental Immunology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, 20892, MD, USA

    Martin Brown

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Correspondence to Roland Martin.

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Kondo, T., Cortese, I., Markovic-Plese, S. et al. Dendritic cells signal T cells in the absence of exogenous antigen. Nat Immunol 2, 932–938 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/ni711

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