Ligation of CD40 on dendritic cells triggers production of high levels of interleukin-12 and enhances T cell stimulatory capacity: TT help via APC activation.

M Cella, D Scheidegger, K Palmer-Lehmann… - Journal of Experimental …, 1996 - rupress.org
M Cella, D Scheidegger, K Palmer-Lehmann, P Lane, A Lanzavecchia, G Alber
Journal of Experimental Medicine, 1996rupress.org
We investigated the possibility that T helper cells might enhance the stimulatory function of
dendritic cells (DCs). We found that ligation of CD40 by CD40L triggers the production of
extremely high levels ofbioactive IL-12. Other stimuli such as microbial agents, TNF-cx or
LPS are much less effective or not at all. In addition, CD40L is the most potent stimulus in
upregulating the expression ofICAM-1, CD80, and CD86 molecules on DCs. These effects of
CD40 ligation result in an increased capacity of DCs to trigger proliferative responses and …
Summary
We investigated the possibility that T helper cells might enhance the stimulatory function of dendritic cells (DCs). We found that ligation of CD40 by CD40L triggers the production of extremely high levels ofbioactive IL-12. Other stimuli such as microbial agents, TNF-cx or LPS are much less effective or not at all. In addition, CD40L is the most potent stimulus in upregulating the expression ofICAM-1, CD80, and CD86 molecules on DCs. These effects of CD40 ligation result in an increased capacity of DCs to trigger proliferative responses and IFN-~/production by T cells. These findings reveal a new role for CD40-CD40L interaction in regulating DC function and are relevant to design therapeutic strategies using cultured DCs.
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