CD103+CD11b+ mucosal classical dendritic cells initiate long-term switched antibody responses to flagellin

Mucosal Immunol. 2018 May;11(3):681-692. doi: 10.1038/mi.2017.105. Epub 2017 Dec 20.

Abstract

Antibody responses induced at mucosal and nonmucosal sites demonstrate a significant level of autonomy. Here, we demonstrate a key role for mucosal interferon regulatory factor-4 (IRF4)-dependent CD103+CD11b+ (DP), classical dendritic cells (cDCs) in the induction of T-dependent immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin A (IgA) responses in the mesenteric lymph node (MLN) following systemic immunization with soluble flagellin (sFliC). In contrast, IRF8-dependent CD103+CD11b- (SP) are not required for these responses. The lack of this response correlated with a complete absence of sFliC-specific plasma cells in the MLN, small intestinal lamina propria, and surprisingly also the bone marrow (BM). Many sFliC-specific plasma cells accumulating in the BM of immunized wild-type mice expressed α4β7+, suggesting a mucosal origin. Collectively, these results suggest that mucosal DP cDC contribute to the generation of the sFliC-specific plasma cell pool in the BM and thus serve as a bridge linking the mucosal and systemic immune system.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, CD / metabolism
  • CD11b Antigen / metabolism
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology*
  • Flagellin / immunology
  • Immunity, Humoral
  • Immunoglobulin A / metabolism
  • Immunoglobulin Class Switching
  • Immunoglobulin G / metabolism
  • Integrin alpha Chains / metabolism
  • Integrin alpha4 / metabolism
  • Integrin beta Chains / metabolism
  • Interferon Regulatory Factors / genetics
  • Interferon Regulatory Factors / metabolism*
  • Lymph Nodes / immunology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mucous Membrane / immunology*
  • Plasma Cells / immunology*

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • CD11b Antigen
  • Immunoglobulin A
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Integrin alpha Chains
  • Integrin beta Chains
  • Interferon Regulatory Factors
  • alpha E integrins
  • integrin beta7
  • interferon regulatory factor-4
  • interferon regulatory factor-8
  • Flagellin
  • Integrin alpha4