Myeloid dendritic cells stimulate both Th1 and Th2 immune responses depending on the nature of the antigen

It has been shown that different types of pathogens induce different immune responses. Recovery from intracellular bacterial and viral infection is de pendent on the secretion of Th1 cytokines, such as interferon-gamma (IFN-ga mma), and on the generation of cytotoxic T cells. In contrast, responses to some parasitic invaders are of the Th2 type, characterized by secretion of interleukin-4 (IL-4). At present, it is not clear what directs this choice , and the most prevalent hypotheses are based on the dendritic cells (DC). In this work, we studied the immune responses generated in mice to a number of antigens, both replicating and nonreplicating, using bone marrow-derive d DC as vehicles for immunization. We demonstrate that DC infected with inf luenza virus prime for a pure Th1 response in vivo devoid of IL-4 induction . This immune response correlates with the induction of DC maturation by th e virus. In contrast, nonreplicating antigens, such as fetal bovine serum ( FBS), beta -galactosidase, or inactivated influenza virus, do not mature th e DC and prime for responses characterized by the secretion of large amount s of IL-4. These data support the hypothesis that myeloid DC are capable of eliciting both types of responses depending on the nature of the antigen.