No abstract

How the development of antibacterial T helper 17 (Th17) cells is selectively promoted by antigen-presenting dendritic cells (DCs) is unclear. We showed that bacteria, but not viruses, primed human DCs to promote IL-17 production in memory Th cells through the nucleotide oligomerization domain 2 (NOD2)-ligand muramyldipeptide (MDP), a derivative of bacterial peptidoglycan. MDP enhanced obligate bacterial Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonist induction of IL-23 and IL-1, which promoted IL-17 expression in T cells. The role of NOD2 in this IL-23-IL-1-IL-17 axis could be confirmed in NOD2-deficient DCs, such as DCs from selected Crohn's disease patients. Thus, antibacterial Th17-mediated immunity in humans is orchestrated by DCs upon sensing bacterial NOD2-ligand MDP.

Dendritic cells (DC) are key initiators of primary immune responses. Myeloid DC can secrete IL-12, a potent Th1-driving factor, and are often viewed as Th1-promoting APC. Here we show that neither a Th1- nor a Th2-inducing function is an intrinsic attribute of human myeloid DC, but both depend on environmental instruction. Uncommitted immature DC require exposure to IFN-γ, at the moment of induction of their maturation or shortly thereafter, to develop the capacity to produce high levels of IL-12p70 upon subsequent contact with naive Th cells. This effect is specific for IFN-γ and is not shared by other IL-12-inducing factors. Type 1-polarized effector DC, matured in the presence of IFN-γ, induce Th1 responses, in contrast to type 2-polarized DC matured in the presence of PGE2 that induce Th2 responses. Type 1-polarized effector DC are resistant to further modulation, which may facilitate their potential use in immunotherapy.

Upon microbial infection, specific Th1 or Th2 responses develop depending on the type of microbe. Here, we demonstrate that different microbial compounds polarize the maturation of human myeloid dendritic cells (DCs) into stably committed Th1 cell-promoting (DC1) or Th2 cell-promoting (DC2) effector DCs that polarize Th cells via different mechanisms. Protein extract derived from the helminth Schistosoma mansoni induced the development of DC2s that promote the development of Th2 cells via the enhanced expression of OX40 ligand. Likewise, toxin from the extracellular bacterium Vibrio cholerae induced development of DC2s as well, however, via an OX40 ligand-independent, still unknown mechanism. In contrast, toxin from the intracellular bacterium Bordetella pertussis induced the development of DC1s with enhanced IL-12 production, which promotes a Th1 cell development. Poly(I:C) (dsRNA, mimic for virus) induced the development of extremely potent Th1-inducing DC1, surprisingly, without an enhanced IL-12 production. The obtained DC1s and DC2s are genuine effector cells that stably express Th cell-polarizing factors and are unresponsive to further modulation. The data suggest that the molecular basis of Th1/Th2 polarization via DCs is unexpectedly diverse and is adapted to the nature of the microbial compounds.