Differential production of Th1- and Th2-type chemokines by mouse Langerhans cells and splenic dendritic cells

J Invest Dermatol. 2005 Feb;124(2):343-50. doi: 10.1111/j.0022-202X.2004.23607.x.

Abstract

Some chemokines specifically attract T helper 1 (Th1) cells, whereas others attract T helper 2 (Th2) cells. In this study, we investigated the capacity of Langerhans cells (LC) to produce Th1- and Th2-type chemokines in comparison with that of splenic CD11c(+) dendritic cells (DC). We prepared highly purified (>95%) LC from BALB/c mouse skin using the panning method. With regard to Th1-type chemokines, exogenous stimulus, such as interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), lipopolysaccharide, or polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid, was mandatory for the production of substantial amounts of CXCL10, CXCL9, and CXCL11 both in LC and splenic DC. LC, as a whole, exhibited low ability to produce Th1-type chemokines in comparison with splenic DC. As for Th2-type chemokines, LC, but not splenic DC, produced high levels of CCL22 and CCL17 constitutively during culture even without exogenous stimuli. The production of Th2-type chemokines was regulated in a complicated manner. In particular, interleukin-4 upregulated, and IFN-gamma downregulated both CCL22 and CCL17 production by LC. Of note, LC produced much more amounts of Th2-type chemokines than splenic DC under any conditions tested. Finally, Th1- and Th2-type chemokines produced by LC were shown to be functional using chemokine receptor-transfected-2B4 T cells. The high production of CC chemokine receptor 4 ligands by LC in the absence of IFN-gamma may be an important character discriminating LC from other DC.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • CD11c Antigen / metabolism
  • Chemokine CCL17
  • Chemokine CCL22
  • Chemokine CXCL10
  • Chemokine CXCL11
  • Chemokine CXCL9
  • Chemokines / genetics*
  • Chemokines, CC / genetics
  • Chemokines, CXC / genetics
  • Female
  • Gene Expression / immunology
  • Immunophenotyping
  • Interferon-gamma / pharmacology
  • Langerhans Cells / drug effects
  • Langerhans Cells / immunology*
  • Langerhans Cells / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • RNA, Messenger / analysis
  • Skin / cytology
  • Skin / immunology
  • Spleen / cytology*
  • Spleen / immunology*
  • Th1 Cells / immunology
  • Th2 Cells / immunology

Substances

  • CD11c Antigen
  • Ccl17 protein, mouse
  • Ccl22 protein, mouse
  • Chemokine CCL17
  • Chemokine CCL22
  • Chemokine CXCL10
  • Chemokine CXCL11
  • Chemokine CXCL9
  • Chemokines
  • Chemokines, CC
  • Chemokines, CXC
  • Cxcl10 protein, mouse
  • Cxcl11 protein, mouse
  • Cxcl9 protein, mouse
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Interferon-gamma