SPECIAL SUSCEPTIBILITY TO APOPTOSIS OF CD1A(-BLOOD CD34(+) PROGENITORS() DENDRITIC CELL PRECURSORS DIFFERENTIATING FROM CORD)

We analyzed the effect of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha on the dif ferentiation and viability of dendritic cells (DC) generated from cord blood CD34(+) progenitors cultured for five days with GM-CSF, Flt-3 l igand (FL), and stem cell factor (SCF), and then with GM-CSF only [TNF (-) cultures]. Adding TNF-alpha from the start [TNF(+) cultures] poten tiated progenitor cell proliferation and promoted early differentiatio n of CD1a(+) DC precursors without affecting differentiation of CD14() cells, which comprise bipotent precursors of DC and macrophages, nor of CD15(+) granulocytic cells. Use of TNF-alpha was associated with i ncreased cell mortality, which peaked on culture day 10 and mainly inv olved CD1a(+) DC. Selective apoptosis of CD1a(+) DC precursors was con firmed by showing that survival of day-7-sorted CD1a(+)CD14(-) cells f rom TNF(+) cultures was lower than that of CD1a(-)CD14(+) cells. That similar findings were noted for sorted CD1a(+)CD14(-) cells of TNF(-) cultures, further cultured with GM-CSF without or with TNF-alpha, indi cates that apoptosis of CD1a(+) DC precursors was not induced by TNF-a lpha. Apoptosis of CD1a(+) DC precursors occurred after the cells had lost the capacity to incorporate bromodeoxyuridin. Finally, using high er GM-CSF concentrations or adding interleukin 3 (IL-3) improved viabi lity of CD1a(+) cells. Other cytokines, such as IL-4 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta 1, were ineffective in this respect, though t hey promoted differentiation of CD1a(+) DC. These results indicate tha t TNF-alpha promotes the differentiation of CD1a(+) DC precursors, whi ch display a high susceptibility to apoptosis that can be prevented by high concentrations of GM-CSF or use of IL-3, without affecting the d ifferentiation of the CD14(+) DC precursors.