1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 promotes tolerogenic dendritic cells with functional migratory properties in NOD mice

J Immunol. 2014 May 1;192(9):4210-20. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1302350. Epub 2014 Mar 24.

Abstract

The biologically active form of vitamin D, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3], is able to promote the generation of tolerogenic mature dendritic cells (mDCs) with an impaired ability to activate autoreactive T cells. These cells could represent a reliable tool for the promotion or restoration of Ag-specific tolerance through vaccination strategies, for example in type 1 diabetes patients. However, successful transfer of 1,25(OH)2D3-treated mDCs (1,25D3-mDCs) depends on the capacity of 1,25(OH)2D3 to imprint a similar tolerogenic profile in cells derived from diabetes-prone donors as from diabetes-resistant donors. In this study, we examined the impact of 1,25(OH)2D3 on the function and phenotype of mDCs originating from healthy (C57BL/6) and diabetes-prone (NOD) mice. We show that 1,25(OH)2D3 is able to imprint a phenotypic tolerogenic profile on DCs derived from both mouse strains. Both NOD- and C57BL/6-derived 1,25D3-mDCs decreased the proliferation and activation of autoreactive T cells in vitro, despite strain differences in the regulation of cytokine/chemokine expression. In addition, 1,25D3-mDCs from diabetes-prone mice expanded CD25(+)Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells and induced intracellular IL-10 production by T cells in vitro. Furthermore, 1,25D3-mDCs exhibited an intact functional migratory capacity in vivo that favors homing to the liver and pancreas of adult NOD mice. More importantly, when cotransferred with activated CD4(+) T cells into NOD.SCID recipients, 1,25D3-mDCs potently dampened the proliferation of autoreactive donor T cells in the pancreatic draining lymph nodes. Altogether, these results argue for the potential of 1,25D3-mDCs to restore Ag-specific immune tolerance and arrest autoimmune disease progression in vivo.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Chemotaxis, Leukocyte / drug effects
  • Chemotaxis, Leukocyte / immunology
  • Dendritic Cells / cytology
  • Dendritic Cells / drug effects
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology*
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • Immune Tolerance / drug effects*
  • Immune Tolerance / immunology
  • Lymphocyte Activation / drug effects
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Inbred NOD
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Phenotype
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Vitamin D / analogs & derivatives*
  • Vitamin D / pharmacology

Substances

  • dihydroxy-vitamin D3
  • Vitamin D