First Author | Baruah P | Year | 2009 |
Journal | Blood | Volume | 113 |
Issue | 15 | Pages | 3485-93 |
PubMed ID | 19171874 | Mgi Jnum | J:148297 |
Mgi Id | MGI:3844198 | Doi | 10.1182/blood-2008-06-164392 |
Citation | Baruah P, et al. (2009) C1q enhances IFN-gamma production by antigen-specific T cells via the CD40 costimulatory pathway on dendritic cells. Blood 113(15):3485-93 |
abstractText | Dendritic cells (DCs) are known to produce C1q, the initiator of the classical complement pathway. We demonstrate that murine DCs deficient in C1q (C1qa(-/-)) are poorer than wild-type (WT) DCs at eliciting the proliferation and Th1 differentiation of antigen-specific T cells. These defects result from decreased production of IL-12p70 by C1qa(-/-) DCs and impaired expression of costimulatory molecules CD80 and CD86 in response to CD40 ligation. The defective production of IL-12p70 and the reduced expression of CD80 and CD86 by C1qa(-/-) DCs were specifically mediated via CD40 ligation, as normal levels of IL-12p70 and CD80/86 were observed after ligation of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) on C1qa(-/-) DCs. CD40 ligation on C1qa(-/-) DCs, but not TLR ligation, results in decreased phosphorylation of p38 and ERK1/2 kinases. A strong colocalization of CD40 and C1q was observed by confocal microscopy upon CD40 ligation (but not TLR ligation) on DCs. Furthermore, human DCs from 2 C1q-deficient patients were found to have impaired IL-12p70 production in response to CD40L stimulation. Our novel data suggest that C1q augments the production of IL-12p70 by mouse and human DCs after CD40 triggering and plays important roles in sustaining the maturation of DCs and guiding the activation of T cells. |