Cutting edge: expression of functional CD137 receptor by dendritic cells

RA Wilcox, AI Chapoval, KS Gorski, M Otsuji… - The Journal of …, 2002 - journals.aai.org
RA Wilcox, AI Chapoval, KS Gorski, M Otsuji, T Shin, DB Flies, K Tamada, RS Mittler…
The Journal of Immunology, 2002journals.aai.org
Interaction between dendritic cells (DCs) and T cells is a prerequisite for the initiation of a T
cell response. The molecular nature of this interaction remains to be fully characterized. We
report in this work that freshly isolated mouse splenic DCs and bone marrow-derived DCs
express CD137 on the cell surface and in soluble form. Triggering CD137 increased the
secretion of IL-6 and IL-12 from DCs. More importantly, infusion of an agonistic mAb to
CD137 into naive mice enhanced the ability of DCs to stimulate T cell proliferation in …
Abstract
Interaction between dendritic cells (DCs) and T cells is a prerequisite for the initiation of a T cell response. The molecular nature of this interaction remains to be fully characterized. We report in this work that freshly isolated mouse splenic DCs and bone marrow-derived DCs express CD137 on the cell surface and in soluble form. Triggering CD137 increased the secretion of IL-6 and IL-12 from DCs. More importantly, infusion of an agonistic mAb to CD137 into naive mice enhanced the ability of DCs to stimulate T cell proliferation in response to both alloantigens and a nominal Ag in vitro. This enhancement of DC function is not mediated through activation of T cells, because the effect was also observed in RAG-1 knockout mice that lack T cells. Our findings implicate CD137 as an important receptor involved in the modulation of DC function.
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