Anja P. Bieneman

TLR9- and FcεRI-Mediated Responses Oppose One Another in Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells by Down-Regulating Receptor Expression

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC) express not only TLR9 molecules through which ligation with CpG DNA favors Th1 responses but also possess IgE receptors (FcεRI) implicated in allergen presentation and induction of Th2 responses. This dichotomy prompted an investigation to determine whether TLR9- and IgE receptor-mediated responses oppose one another in pDC by affecting receptor expression and associated functional responses. Results showed that IgE cross-linking reduced TLR9 in pDC and inhibited the capacity of these cells to secrete IFN-α when stimulated with the CpG oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN)-2216. In contrast, an ∼15-fold reduction in FcεRIα mRNA and a loss in surface protein were seen in pDC first exposed to TLR9 ligation with ODN-2216. Results indicated that type I IFNs partly mediated this effect, as rIFN-α also caused a significant ∼4-fold reduction in FcεRIα mRNA. Finally, this reduction in FcεRIα mediated by ODN-2216 correlated with a selective suppression of allergen-induced CD4+ T cell proliferation, but not of responses resulting from tetanus toxoid. Overall, these results imply mechanisms by which specific innate and IgE-dependent immune responses counterregulate one another at the dendritic cell level and may have significant impact on whether an ensuing response is either of Th1 or Th2 in nature.

Human blood dendritic cells from allergic subjects have impaired capacity to produce interferon‐α via toll‐like receptor 9

Background High‐affinity IgE receptor (FcɛRI) expression on blood dendritic cells reportedly correlates with serum IgE levels. Our studies demonstrate that plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) secrete pro‐inflammatory cytokines (IL‐6, TNF‐α) following FcɛRI stimulation – a mode of activation that simultaneously reduces expression of Toll‐like receptor 9 (TLR9). Whether or not TLR9 and/or FcɛRI levels and their function on dendritic cells relate to allergic status is unknown.

Human Basophils Secrete IL-3: Evidence of Autocrine Priming for Phenotypic and Functional Responses in Allergic Disease

Although IL-3 is commonly recognized for its growth factor-like activity, in vitro studies have long demonstrated a unique capacity for this cytokine to also augment the proinflammatory properties and phenotype of human basophils. In particular, basophils secrete mediators that are hallmarks in allergic disease, including vasoactive amines (e.g., histamine), lipid metabolites (e.g., leukotriene C4), and cytokines (e.g., IL-4/IL-13), which are all markedly enhanced with IL-3 pretreatment. This priming phenomenon is observed in response to both IgE-dependent and IgE-independent stimulation. Additionally, IL-3 directly activates basophils for IL-13 secretion and enhanced CD69 expression, two markers that are elevated in allergic subjects. Lymphocytes are commonly thought to be the source of the IL-3 that primes for these basophil responses. However, we demonstrate herein for the first time that basophils themselves rapidly produce IL-3 (within 4 h) in response to IgE-dependent activation. More importantly, our findings definitively show that basophils rapidly bind and utilize the IL-3 they produce, as evidenced by functional and phenotypic activity that is inhibited in the presence of neutralizing anti-IL-3 receptor (CD123) Abs. We predict that autocrine IL-3 activity resulting from low-level IgE/FcεRI cross-linking by specific allergen represents an important mechanism behind the hyperreactive nature of basophils that has long been observed in allergic disease.

Decreases in human dendritic cell–dependent TH2-like responses after acute in vivo IgE neutralization

BACKGROUND Dendritic cells (DCs) and other professional antigen-presenting cells express a variant of the high-affinity IgE receptor known as alphagamma(2), which, on the basis of in vitro findings, has long been implicated to function in facilitating allergen uptake and presentation to T(H) cells. OBJECTIVES To use omalizumab as an in vivo tool to neutralize IgE binding to circulating dendritic cells and to assess whether this results in altered DC-dependent T-cell responsiveness to allergen ex vivo. METHODS Subjects with cat allergy were enrolled in a 3.5-month, double blind, randomized (3.5:1), placebo-controlled trial of omalizumab using standard dosing for allergic asthma. Blood plasmacytoid and myeloid DCs were assessed at baseline and posttreatment for expression of surface IgE, FcepsilonRIalpha, and induction of CD4(+)T-cell proliferation and cytokine responses to cat allergen. RESULTS IgE expression on plasmacytoid and myeloid DCs from omalizumab-treated subjects (n = 12) decreased by > or =95% posttreatment (P = .0005), whereas FcepsilonRIalpha expression decreased by 66% and 48%, respectively (P = .0005). Cat allergen-induced proliferation in DC/T-cell cocultures observed at baseline was suppressed approximately 20% to 40% postomalizumab treatment (P = .001). Multiplexing for cytokines in plasmacytoid DC/T-cell cocultures also showed decreases in IL-5, IL-13, and IL-10 (P < .05), whereas IL-2 and IFN-gamma were unaltered or slightly increased. These changes were not evident in placebo-control subjects (n = 4). CONCLUSION IgE likely facilitates allergen presentation by dendritic cells in vivo and is also important in regulating DC-dependent T-cell cytokines during effector phases of allergic disease.

Suppression of the immunologic response to peanut during immunotherapy is often transient

BACKGROUND Studies suggest that oral immunotherapy (OIT) and sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) for food allergy hold promise; however, the immunologic mechanisms underlying these therapies are not well understood. OBJECTIVE We sought to generate insights into the mechanisms and duration of suppression of immune responses to peanut during immunotherapy. METHODS Blood was obtained from subjects at baseline and at multiple time points during a placebo-controlled trial of peanut OIT and SLIT. Immunologic outcomes included measurement of spontaneous and stimulated basophil activity by using automated fluorometry (histamine) and flow cytometry (activation markers and IL-4), measurement of allergen-induced cytokine expression in dendritic cell (DC)-T-cell cocultures by using multiplexing technology, and measurement of MHC II and costimulatory molecule expression on DCs by using flow cytometry. RESULTS Spontaneous and allergen-induced basophil reactivity (histamine release, CD63 expression, and IL-4 production) were suppressed during dose escalation and after 6 months of maintenance dosing. Peanut- and dust mite-induced expression of TH2 cytokines was reduced in DC-T-cell cocultures during immunotherapy. This was associated with decreased levels of CD40, HLA-DR, and CD86 expression on DCs and increased expression of CD80. These effects were most striking in myeloid DC-T-cell cocultures from subjects receiving OIT. Many markers of immunologic suppression reversed after withdrawal from immunotherapy and in some cases during ongoing maintenance therapy. CONCLUSION OIT and SLIT for peanut allergy induce rapid suppression of basophil effector functions, DC activation, and TH2 cytokine responses during the initial phases of immunotherapy in an antigen-nonspecific manner. Although there was some interindividual variation, in many patients suppression appeared to be temporary.

Subcutaneous allergen immunotherapy restores human dendritic cell innate immune function.

Background We recently reported that human blood dendritic cells from allergic subjects have impaired IFN‐α production following toll‐like receptor 9 (TLR9)‐dependent innate immune stimulation. It is not known how subcutaneous allergen immunotherapy (SCIT) affects dendritic cell immune responses.

Dendritic Cell and T cell Responses in Children with Food Allergy

Background Food allergy (FA) and eosinophilic oesophagitis (EE) are increasingly common clinical problems. Dendritic cells (DCs) are key regulators of the sensitization and effector phases of allergic immune responses, but their role in these diseases is largely unknown.

Histamine-releasing factor/translationally controlled tumor protein (HRF/TCTP)-induced histamine release is enhanced with SHIP-1 knockdown in cultured human mast cell and basophil models

Previously, we demonstrated a negative correlation between histamine release to histamine‐releasing factor/translationally controlled tumor protein (HRF/TCTP) and protein levels of SHIP‐1 in human basophils. The present study was conducted to investigate whether suppressing SHIP‐1 using small interfering (si)RNA technology would alter the releasability of culture‐derived mast cells and basophils, as determined by HRF/TCTP histamine release. Frozen CD34+ cells were obtained from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (Seattle, WA, USA). Cells were grown in StemPro‐34 medium containing cytokines: mast cells with IL‐6 and stem cell factor (100 ng/ml each) for 6–8 weeks and basophils with IL‐3 (6.7 ng/ml) for 2–3 weeks. siRNA transfections were performed during Week 6 for mast cells and Week 2 for basophils with siRNA for SHIP‐1 or a negative control siRNA. Changes in SHIP‐1 expression were determined by Western blot. The functional knockdown was measured by HRF/TCTP‐induced histamine release. siRNA knockdown of SHIP‐1 in mast cells ranged from 31% to 82%, mean 65 ± 12%, compared with control (n=4). Histamine release to HRF/TCTP was increased only slightly in two experiments. SHIP‐1 knockdown in basophils ranged from 34% to 69%, mean 51.8 ± 7% (n=4). Histamine release to HRF/TCTP in these basophils was dependent on the amount of SHIP knockdown. Mast cells and basophils derived from CD34+ precursor cells represent suitable models for transfection studies. Reducing SHIP‐1 protein in cultured mast cells and in cultured basophils increases releasability of the cells.

Interferons modulate FcɛRI-dependent production of autoregulatory IL-10 by circulating human monocytoid dendritic cells

BACKGROUND Immature human blood monocytoid dendritic cells (mDCs) express high-affinity receptors for IgE (Fc epsilon RI), yet their exact function and regulation remain poorly understood. OBJECTIVE We sought to characterize Fc epsilon RI-dependent cytokine responses and their regulation in circulating human blood mDCs. METHODS Fc epsilon RI-dependent cytokine responses of circulating mDCs were studied by using anti-Fc epsilon RI alpha stimulation. Plasmacytoid dendritic cell (pDC) cross-regulation through Toll-like receptor 9 on these responses was investigated by examining the effects of exogenous IFN-alpha pretreatment and by coculturing pDCs and mDCs stimulated with CpG. Culture supernatants were analyzed by means of ELISA to determine cytokine levels. Cell markers were determined by means of flow cytometry. RESULTS mDCs express marked levels of Fc epsilon RI (net mean fluorescence intensity, 196 +/- 49; n = 4). After Fc epsilon RI-dependent activation in mDCs, TNF-alpha (2189 +/- 864 pg/10(6) mDCs, n = 3) levels were upregulated within 4 hours, whereas IL-10 (112 +/- 47 pg/10(6) mDCs, n = 3) levels were detectable only after 24 hours of incubation. After adding IL-10-neutralizing antibody, TNF-alpha Fc epsilon RI-dependent responses were significantly augmented (3903 +/- 197 pg/10(6) mDCs, P < .01, n = 3). Conversely, recombinant IL-10 dose-dependently inhibited Fc epsilon RI-mediated TNF-alpha responses up to 86% +/- 3% (n = 3, P < .001). Pretreatment of mDCs with IFN-alpha (100 U/mL) enhanced Fc epsilon RI-dependent secretion of IL-10 by 3.2-fold (183 +/- 11 pg/10(6) mDCs, n = 4) compared with that seen in untreated cells (57 +/- 33 pg/10(6) mDCs, P < .001, n = 4). In pDC/mDC cocultures pretreated with CpG, Fc epsilon RI-dependent IL-10 secretion by mDCs was similarly augmented by 3-fold. CONCLUSIONS Autocrine secretion of IL-10, a critical autoregulator of Fc epsilon RI-dependent proinflammatory responses in mDCs, is cross-regulated by IFN-alpha, a major product of Toll-like receptor 9 responses in pDCs that normally promotes T(H)1 immunity.

Pulmonary allergic responses augment interleukin‐13 secretion by circulating basophils yet suppress interferon‐α from plasmacytoid dendritic cells

Background Allergic inflammatory processes may have the capacity to propagate systemically through the actions of circulating leucocytes. Consequently, basophils from allergic individuals are often ‘primed’, as evidenced by their hyperresponsiveness in vitro. IFN‐α secreted predominantly by plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs), suppresses basophil priming for IL‐13 production in vitro.