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Human neutrophil defensins selectively chemoattract naive T and immature dendritic cells
Author(s) -
Yang De,
Chen Qian,
Chertov Oleg,
Oppenheim Joost J.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
journal of leukocyte biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.819
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1938-3673
pISSN - 0741-5400
DOI - 10.1189/jlb.68.1.9
Subject(s) - biology , chemotaxis , microbiology and biotechnology , immunology , beta defensin , tumor necrosis factor alpha , innate immune system , cd8 , immune system , receptor , biochemistry
Defensins, a family of cationic, structurally related, antimicrobial peptides, contribute to host defense by disrupting the cytoplasmic membrane of microbes. Here we show that human neutrophil defensins selectively induce the migration of human CD4 + /CD45RA + naive and CD8 + , but not CD4 + /CD45RO + memory, T cells. Moreover, human neutrophil defensins are chemotactic for immature human dendritic cells derived from either CD34 + progenitors or peripheral blood monocytes. Upon maturation induced by treatment with tumor necrosis factor α (TNF‐α), dendritic cells lose their responsiveness to human neutrophil defensins. The chemotactic effect of human neutrophil defensins on both T and dendritic cells is pertussis toxin‐sensitive, suggesting that a G iα protein‐coupled receptor is responsible. Human neutrophil defensins are also chemotactic for immature murine dendritic cells. These data suggest that, in addition to their antimicrobial role, human neutrophil defensins also contribute to adaptive immunity by mobilizing T cells and dendritic cells.