S. Ghanekar et al., CYTOKINE EXPRESSION BY HUMAN PERIPHERAL-BLOOD DENDRITIC CELLS STIMULATED IN-VITRO WITH HIV-1 AND HERPES-SIMPLEX VIRUS, The Journal of immunology, 157(9), 1996, pp. 4028-4036
Dendritic cells are potent stimulators of Ag-specific T cell responses
and have been implicated in the pathogenesis of HIV-1 and other viral
infections. Although cytokines may be involved in bath of these proce
sses, there is little information on the expression of cytokines by hu
man blood dendritic cells. We characterized cytokine gene and protein
expression in dendritic cells that were purified from normal human PBM
C by flow cytometry and stimulated in vitro for up to 24 h with HIV-1
or herpes simplex virus (HSV). The unstimulated, uncultured dendritic
cells were defined by their phenotype (HLA DR(+) CD3(-.)CD19(-) CD16(-
)CD56(-) CD14(-)) and distinct morphology, lack of mRNA expression for
CD3, CD14 and CD19, and presence of mRNA for CD4 and CD83. The purifi
ed dendritic cells also expressed CD4 (70-90%), CD33 (36-48%), and CD1
1c (44-54%); lacked CD1a expression (<1 %); and were potent stimulator
s of an allogeneic MLR. The stimulated dendritic cells expressed mRNA
for IFN-cu, IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, GM-CSF, and TNF
-alpha within 4 to 12 h as determined by reverse transcription-PCR, wi
th higher Bevels induced tay HSV compared with HlV-1 strains IIIb or B
aL. In contrast, the dendritic cells produced detectable protein only
for IFN-alpha and IL-6 in response to HIV-1 or HSV, and IL-1 beta in r
esponse to HSV within 24 h. There were no differences in expression of
CD80 and CD86 surface molecules by dendritic cells that were either m
ock stimulated or stimulated with HIV-1 or HSV for 24 h. Production of
IFN-alpha, IL-1 beta, and IL-6 beta, dendritic cells may be important
to the immunologic function of these cells and their role in the path
ogenesis of HIV-1 and HSV infections.