CD8???? and CD8???? plasmacytoid dendritic cells induce Foxp3? regulatory T cells and prevent the induction of airway hyper-reactivity.

ABSTRACT: Dendritic cells (DCs) control the balance between protection against pathogens and tolerance to innocuous or self-antigens. Here, we demonstrate for the first time that mouse plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs) can be segregated into three distinct populations, exhibiting phenotypic and functional differences, according to their surface expression of CD8? or CD8? as CD8????, CD8????, or CD8????. In a mouse model of lung inflammation, adoptive transfer of CD8???? or CD8???? pDCs prevents the development of airway hyper-reactivity. The tolerogenic features of these subsets are associated with increased production of retinoic acid, which leads to the enhanced induction of Foxp3? regulatory T cells compared with CD8???? pDCs. Our data thus identify subsets of pDCs with potent tolerogenic functions that may contribute to the maintenance of tolerance in mucosal sites such as the lungs.

SUBMITTER: Lombardi V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3378819 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature