IL-21-stimulated human plasmacytoid dendritic cells secrete granzyme B, which impairs their capacity to induce T-cell proliferation.

ABSTRACT: Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) play a crucial role during innate immunity by secreting bulk amounts of type I interferons (IFNs) in response to Toll-like receptor (TLR)-mediated pathogen recognition. In addition, pDCs can also contribute to adaptive immunity by activation of antigen-specific T cells. Furthermore, it is well established that pDCs contribute to the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases, including lupus. Interleukin-21 (IL-21) is a cytokine produced by activated CD4(+) T and natural killer T (NKT) cells and has a pleiotropic role in immunity by controlling myeloid DC-, NKT-, T-, and B-cell functions. It has remained elusive whether IL-21 affects pDCs. Here we investigate the role of IL-21 in human pDC activation and function and observe that IL-21 activates signal transduc

SUBMITTER: Karrich JJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3630825 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature