The combination of 4-1BBL and CD40L strongly enhances the capacity of dendritic cells to stimulate HIV-specific T cell responses

J Leukoc Biol. 2011 Jun;89(6):989-99. doi: 10.1189/jlb.0810466. Epub 2011 Mar 22.

Abstract

One of the consequences of HIV infection is a progressive loss of T cell functions, resulting in decreased cytokine secretion and proliferation and an increased sensitivity to apoptosis. Therefore, successful therapeutic vaccination approaches should aim at restoring the functionality of existing HIV-specific T cells, as well as to efficiently induce potent, HIV-specific T cells from naïve T cells. In this study, we wanted to determine the stimulatory capacity of DCs coelectroporated with mRNA encoding for different costimulatory molecules of the TNFSF, together with HIV antigen-encoding mRNA. We show that DCs electroporated with 4-1BBL can enhance the proliferation, functionality, cytokine production, and survival of HIV-specific CD8(+) T cells. Furthermore, we are the first to show that a combination of 4-1BBL and CD40L overexpression on DCs dramatically enhances CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell responses. Finally, we demonstrate that signaling through 4-1BB, but not through CD40, can alleviate the suppressive effect of Tregs on CD8(+) T cell proliferation. Thus, the combination of 4-1BBL and CD40L enhances HIV-specific CD8(+) T cell responses in a synergistic way, resulting in enhanced proliferation of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell subsets, an increased cytokine secretion, and a reduced sensitivity to Treg-mediated immune suppression.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 4-1BB Ligand / pharmacology*
  • Blotting, Western
  • CD40 Antigens / immunology
  • CD40 Ligand / pharmacology*
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology*
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Flow Cytometry
  • HIV / immunology*
  • HIV Infections / immunology*
  • HIV Seropositivity
  • Humans
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology

Substances

  • 4-1BB Ligand
  • CD40 Antigens
  • RNA, Messenger
  • CD40 Ligand