Open AccessIdentification of dendritic cell subsets responding to genital infection by Chlamydia muridarum
Author(s) -
Moniz Raymond J.,
Chan Ann M.,
Kelly Kathleen A.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
fems immunology & medical microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1574-695X
pISSN - 0928-8244
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-695x.2008.00523.x
Subject(s) - biology , immunology , in vivo , dendritic cell , t cell , lymph node , in vitro , immune system , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry
Dendritic cells (DCs) are central for the induction of T‐cell responses needed for chlamydial eradication. Here, we report the activation of two DC subsets: a classical CD11b+ (cDC) and plasmacytoid (pDC) during genital infection with Chlamydia muridarum . Genital infection induced an influx of cDC and pDC into the genital tract and its draining lymph node (iliac lymph nodes, ILN) as well as colocalization with T cells in the ILN. Genital infection with C. muridarum also stimulated high levels of costimulatory molecules on cDC central for the activation of naïve T cells in vivo . In contrast, pDC expressed low levels of most costimulatory molecules in vivo and did not secrete cytokines associated with the production of T helper (Th)1 cells in vitro . However, pDC upregulated inducible costimulatory ligand expression and produced IL‐6 and IL‐10 in response to chlamydial exposure in vitro . Our findings show that these two DC subsets likely have different functions in vivo . cDCs are prepared for induction of antichlamydial T‐cell responses, whereas pDCs have characteristics associated with the differentiation of non‐Th1 cell subsets.