Premium
Changes in epidermal Langerhans cells, γδ T cells and CD4 T cells after intradermal infection with recombinant vaccinia virus expressing cytokine genes
Author(s) -
HERNANDO RICHARD A.,
RUBY JANET C.,
HALLIDAY GARY M.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
immunology and cell biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.999
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1440-1711
pISSN - 0818-9641
DOI - 10.1038/icb.1994.57
Subject(s) - biology , epidermis (zoology) , virus , cytokine , langerhans cell , antigen , vaccinia , immunology , virology , immune system , microbiology and biotechnology , recombinant dna , gene , biochemistry , anatomy
Summary Langerhans cells (LC) play a critical role in cutaneous immunity, and whereas Thy‐1 − dendritic epidermal cells (Thy‐1 + dEC) are also present in murine epidermis, their role remains unknown. Antigens and cytokines influence the number of LC found in the epidermis. However, there has been no investigation into the effects of particular cytokines during resolution of a viral infection. In order to study this we infected mice subcutaneously with vaccinia virus (VV) constructs containing the genes encoding TNF‐α, IL‐6 or IFN‐γ and the density of LC, THY‐1 + dEC and CD4 + cells was determined. In this system the cytokines were produced locally at the site of viral replication. Cell densities were examined at day 1, while the response was being initiated, and at day 5 as the infection was being resolved. Infection with VV, like exposure to other antigens, decreased the density of epidermal LC at day 1, and they remained depressed at day 5. Production of TNF‐α during VV growth did not influence this response by LC, whereas IFN‐γ and IL‐6 both increased the number of epidermal Ia + LC at day 1 but then caused a reduction at day 5. Thy‐1 + dEC were not affected by VV infection at any time‐point examined, nor did any cytokine influence the density of these cells at day 1. However, by day 5 IFN‐γ and IL‐6, but not TNE‐α, decreased the number of Thy‐1 + dEC. These changes in cell densities are consistent with LC but not Thy‐1 + dEC playing a role in initiation of immunity against VV and a complex interplay between cytokines and these cells during the response to VV. CD4 + T cells were also attracted into the epidermis by IEN‐γ and IL‐6 but not by TNE‐α