UV Radiation Induces the Epidermal Recruitment of Dendritic Cells that Compensate for the Depletion of Langerhans Cells in Human Skin.

UVR causes skin injury and inflammation, resulting in impaired immune function and increased skin cancer risk. Langerhans cells (LCs), the immune sentinels of the epidermis, are depleted for several days following a single UVR exposure and can be reconstituted from circulating monocytes. However, the differentiation pathways leading to the recovery of a normal pool of LCs is still unclear. To study the dynamic changes in human skin with UV injury, we exposed a cohort of 29 healthy human volunteers to a clinically relevant dose of UVR and analyzed sequential epidermal biopsies for changes in leukocyte and dendritic cell (DC) subsets. UV-induced depletion of CD1a(high) LC was compensated by sequential appearance of various epidermal leukocytes. CD14(+) monocytes were recruited as early as D1 post exposure, followed by recruitment of two inflammatory DC subsets that may represent precursors of LCs. These CD1a(low) CD207(-) and the heretofore unknown CD1a(low) CD207(+) DCs appeared at day 1 and day 4 post UVR, respectively, and were endowed with T-cell-activating properties similar to those of LCs. We conclude that recruitment of monocytes and inflammatory DCs appear as a physiological response of the epidermis in order to repair UVR-induced LC depletion associated with immune suppression.

Differential capacity of human skin dendritic cells to polarize CD4+ T cells into IL-17, IL-21 and IL-22 producing cells.

Accumulating evidence suggests a contribution of T cell-derived IL-17, IL-21 and IL-22 cytokines in skin immune homeostasis as well as inflammatory disorders. Here, we analyzed whether the cytokine-producing T lymphocytes could be induced by the different subsets of human skin dendritic cells (DCs), i.e., epidermal Langerhans cells (LCs), dermal CD1c(+)CD14(-) and CD14(+) DCs (DDCs). DCs were purified following a 2-day migration from separated epidermal and dermal sheets and co-cultured with allogeneic T cells before cytokine secretion was explored. Results showed that no skin DCs could induce substantial IL-17 production by naïve CD4(+) or CD8(+)T lymphocytes whereas all of them could induce IL-17 production by memory T cells. In contrast, LCs and CD1c(+)CD14(-)DDCs were able to differentiate naïve CD4(+)T lymphocytes into IL-22 and IL-21-secreting cells, LCs being the most efficient in this process. Intracellular cytokine staining showed that the majority of IL-21 or IL-22 secreting CD4(+)T lymphocytes did not co-synthesized IFN-γ, IL-4 or IL-17. IL-21 and IL-22 production were dependent on the B7/CD28 co-stimulatory pathway and ICOS-L expression on skin LCs significantly reduced IL-21 level. Finally, we found that TGF-ß strongly down-regulates both IL-21 and IL-22 secretion by allogeneic CD4(+) T cells. These results add new knowledge on the functional specialization of human skin DCs and might suggest new targets in the treatment of inflammatory skin disorders.

Human langerhans cells are more efficient than CD14(-)CD1c(+) dermal dendritic cells at priming naive CD4(+) T cells.

Few data are available regarding the role of human skin dendritic cells (DCs) in driving T-cell responses. In this study we analyzed the relative capacity of Langerhans cells (LCs) and dermal CD14(-)CD1c(+) DCs (DDCs) to trigger naive CD4(+) T-cell proliferation and differentiation. DC subsets were purified after a 2-day migration from epidermis and dermis of the same skin sample. Migratory LCs showed far more activated phenotype than CD1c(+)DDCs and distinct expression of new molecules of the B7 family; when compared with LCs, CD1c(+)DDCs showed higher PD-L1 and lower inducible co-stimulator ligand (ICOS-L) expression. As expected, CD1c(+)DDCs showed lower allostimulatory property than LCs, a process that was partly reversed by anti-PD-L1 mAb. LCs were significantly more efficient than CD1c(+)DDCs at inducing allogeneic naive CD4(+) T cells to secrete both T helper cell 1 (Th1; IFN-gamma and tumor necrosis factor-alpha ) and Th2 (IL-4 and IL-5) cytokines. Moreover, anti-PD-L1 mAb increased the production of IFN-gamma by both LC- and CD1c(+)DDC-stimulated T cells. Globally, these results argue for a preponderant role of human LCs in inducing naive CD4(+) T-cell priming. Low expression of co-stimulatory molecules together with high expression of PD-L1 might limit the efficiency of CD1c(+)DDCs at inducing naive CD4(+) T-cell proliferation and secretion of cytokines.

Different mechanisms are involved in apoptosis induced by melanoma gangliosides on human monocyte-derived dendritic cells.

Tumor escape is linked to multiple mechanisms, notably the liberation, by tumor cells, of soluble factors that inhibit the function of dendritic cells (DC). We have shown that melanoma gangliosides impair DC differentiation and induce their apoptosis. The present study was aimed to give insight into the mechanisms involved. DC apoptosis was independent of the catabolism of gangliosides since lactosylceramide did not induce cell death. Apoptosis induced by GM3 and GD3 gangliosides was not blocked by inhibitors of de novo ceramide biosynthesis, whereas the acid sphingomyelinase inhibitor desipramine only prevented apoptosis induced by GM3. Furthermore, our results suggest that DC apoptosis was triggered via caspase activation, and it was ROS dependent with GD3 ganglioside, suggesting that GM3 and GD3 induced apoptosis through different mechanisms.

Poly(I:C)-Treated human langerhans cells promote the differentiation of CD4+ T cells producing IFN-gamma and IL-10.

Epidermal Langerhans cells (LCs) are the first dendritic cells to encounter skin pathogens. However, their function has recently been challenged, especially in the initiation of T-cell responses to viral antigens. We have previously reported that fresh immature human LCs express mRNA encoding TLR3. Here we analyze the response of highly purified human LCs to poly(I:C), a synthetic mimetic of viral dsRNA recognized by TLR3. We show that LCs exposed for 2 days to poly(I:C) under serum-free conditions up-regulated co-stimulatory molecules, a process associated with increased allostimulatory capacity. Furthermore, poly(I:C) significantly enhanced LC survival and induced them to produce CXCL10, IL-6, and IL-12 p40. Bioactive IL-12 p70, IL-1beta, IL-15, IL-18, and IL-23 were never detected, even after CD40 ligation. LC incubation in the presence of bafilomycin completely reversed the effect of poly(I:C) on LC phenotypic activation and survival, indicating that endosomal TLR3 is involved in this process. Most interestingly, we report here that poly(I:C)-treated LCs favored alloreactive CD4(+) T-cell differentiation toward a Th1 profile and concomitant differentiation of IL-10-producing CD4(+) T cells that might limit, at another time, the inflammatory response and subsequent tissue damage.

Human C3 deficiency associated with impairments in dendritic cell differentiation, memory B cells, and regulatory T cells.

Primary C3 deficiency, a rare autosomal inherited disease (OMIM 120700), was identified in a 2-year-old male suffering from recurrent pyogenic infections from early infancy with undetectable total complement hemolytic activity (CH50) and C3 values. The nonconsanguineous parents and the two patients' two siblings had 50% normal serum C3 concentration. The molecular abnormality associated a paternal allele coding C3 with the missense mutation p.Ser(550)Pro and an apparently null maternal allele, with production of a defective protein that could no longer be secreted. Vaccination of the child did not induce a long-term Ab response. Accordingly, switched memory IgD(-)CD27(+) B cells were barely detected, amounting to only 2.3% of peripheral blood CD19(+) cells. Cells were significantly defective in stimulating alloreactive responses. The in vitro development of immature dendritic cells and their maturation capacity were greatly impaired, with decreased CD1a expression and IL-12p70 secretion ability. These cells were unable to induce autologous B cell proliferation and Ig secretion in the presence of CD40L and C3. Finally, the regulatory T cell development ability of CD4(+) T cells after CD3 and CD46 activation in the presence of IL-2 was significantly impaired. Thus, the association of important functional defects of dendritic cells, acquisition of B cell memory, and regulatory T cells with human C3 deficiency strongly supports a major role for C3 in bridging innate and adaptive immunity in humans.

Supplementation with oral probiotic bacteria protects human cutaneous immune homeostasis after UV exposure-double blind, randomized, placebo controlled clinical trial.

There is now strong evidence that probiotic bacteria can regulate inflammatory immune responses. Here, we analyzed whether oral supplementation with the probiotic bacterial strain Lactobacillus johnsonii (La1) could interfere with skin immune status following UV exposure. A randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled clinical trial was conducted with 54 healthy volunteers receiving either La1 or placebo, during six weeks prior to solar-simulated UV irradiation. Blister roofs and skin biopsies were recovered 1, 4 and 10 days after UV exposure from un-irradiated and irradiated skin and used for immunohistochemical analysis and mixed epidermal cell lymphocyte reaction (MECLR), respectively. La1 supplementation did not prevent the UV-induced phenotypic maturation of Langerhans cells (LCs) or the decrease in MECLR in irradiated skin samples, one day post-irradiation. On day 4, MECLR was still decreased in the placebo group, with a parallel reduction in the CD1a LC marker in irradiated epidermis. In contrast, the allostimulatory capacity of epidermal cells was totally recovered in the La1 group correlating with the normalization of CD1a expression within the epidermis. For the first time, the results provide evidence that ingested probiotic bacteria accelerate the recovery of skin immune homeostasis after UV-induced immunosuppression.

Differential effects of allergens and irritants on early differentiating monocyte-derived dendritic cells.

Phenotypic modifications induced by contact allergens on monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MoDC) have been proposed as an in vitro alternative method to discriminate potential sensitizers from irritants. However, the sensitivity of the assay remains controversial. In all the studies reported so far, DC treatment with chemicals was carried out after 5 to 6 days of monocyte culture. Here, we first determined the dynamic range of expression of differentiation and activation markers on human MoDC cultured in the presence, or absence, of TGFbeta. At day three of culture, most monocytes have already differentiated into CD1a+/CD14- DC and, in the presence of TGFbeta, they expressed CD40, CD54 or CD86 antigens with lower fluorescence intensity than 5 day-cultured MoDC. Treatment of 3-day cultured TGFbeta-MoDC with all the tested strong and moderate sensitizers, i.e. NiSO(4), DNCB, balm of Peru, isothiazolinone and cinnamic aldehyde, at non-toxic concentrations, induced significant phenotypic changes, whereas the irritant SLS had no effect. However, a large variability was observed in the number and nature of the modified antigens, according to the chemical and the experiments. This implies that many surface antigens must be analyzed and many experiments carried out to use this assay as an alternative screening method for contact sensitizers.

Melanoma-derived gangliosides impair migratory and antigen-presenting function of human epidermal Langerhans cells and induce their apoptosis.

Gangliosides are ubiquitous, membrane-associated, glycosphingolipids, the composition and production of which is altered in many tumour cells. They have been shown to inhibit the in vitro generation and differentiation of dendritic cells (DCs) from progenitors, but their effect on human tissue-residing DCs is yet to be investigated. In the present study, we analysed the effect of GM3 and GD3 gangliosides purified from human melanoma tumours on the phenotypic and functional maturation of human epidermal Langerhans cells (LCs), the first immune barrier against the tumour cells. We showed that both gangliosides impaired spontaneous LC maturation induced by a short in vitro culture, as assessed by significant down-regulation of co-stimulation (CD40, CD54, CD80, CD86) and maturation markers (CD83, CCR7), which correlated to an impaired ability of the cells to mount allogeneic T cell proliferation. Furthermore, the ganglioside-treated cells displayed less ability to migrate towards CCL19/macrophage inflammatory protein 3 beta, the chemokine that specifically binds CCR7 and mediates LC migration to lymph nodes. Lastly, we showed that both GM3 and GD3 gangliosides enhance LC spontaneous apoptosis. Globally, these in vitro results might explain, at least in part, the altered number and distribution of LCs in melanoma-bearing patients. They underscore a new mechanism for gangliosides to impede the host immune response by inducing LC dysfunction in the tumour microenvironment.

UVA radiation impairs phenotypic and functional maturation of human dermal dendritic cells.

There is now strong evidence that the ultraviolet A (UVA) part of the solar spectrum contributes to the development of skin cancers. Its effect on the skin immune system, however, has not been fully investigated. Here, we analyzed the effects of UVA radiation on dermal dendritic cells (DDC), which, in addition, provided further characterization of these cells. Dermal sheets were obtained from normal human skin and irradiated, or not, with UVA at 2 or 12 J per cm2. After a 2 d incubation, the phenotype of emigrant cells was analyzed by double immunostaining and flow cytometry. Results showed that migratory DDC were best characterized by CD1c expression and that only few cells co-expressed the Langerhans cell marker Langerin. Whereas the DC extracted from the dermis displayed an immature phenotype, emigrant DDC showed increased expression of HLA-DR and acquired co-stimulation and maturation markers. We showed here that UVA significantly decreased the number of viable emigrant DDC, a process related to increased apoptosis. Furthermore, UVA irradiation impaired the phenotypic and functional maturation of migrating DDC into potent antigen-presenting cells, in a concentration-dependent manner. The results provide further evidence that UVA are immunosuppressive and suggest an additional mechanism by which solar radiation impairs immune response.

TNF-alpha enhances phenotypic and functional maturation of human epidermal Langerhans cells and induces IL-12 p40 and IP-10/CXCL-10 production.

Dendritic cells (DC) play a central role in immunity/tolerance decision, depending on their activation/maturation state. TNF-alpha is largely produced in the skin under inflammatory conditions. However, it still remains to be defined how TNF-alpha modulates the activation status of human LC, the most specialized DC controlling skin immunity. Here, we reported that fresh immature LC, highly purified from healthy human skin and exposed for two days to TNF-alpha under serum-free conditions, expressed up-regulated level of co-stimulatory molecules (CD40, CD54, CD86), maturation markers (CD83, DC-LAMP), CCR7 lymph node homing receptor, and down-regulated Langerin level, in a dose-dependent manner. This mature phenotype is closely associated with enhanced LC allostimulatory capacity. Furthermore, TNF-alpha significantly increased the number of viable LC and decreased their spontaneous apoptosis. More importantly, TNF-alpha induced LC to produce both IFN-gamma-inducible-protein IP-10/CXCL10, a Th1-attracting chemokine and IL-12 p40. Bioactive IL-12 p70 was never detected, even after additional CD40 stimulus. The results implicate LC as an effective target through which TNF-alpha may up- or down-regulate the inflammatory skin reactions.

Gangliosides from human melanoma tumors impair dendritic cell differentiation from monocytes and induce their apoptosis.

Gangliosides are ubiquitous membrane-associated glycosphingolipids, which are involved in cell growth and differentiation. Most tumor cells synthesize and shed large amounts of gangliosides into their microenvironment, and many studies have unraveled their immunosuppressive properties. In the present study we analyzed the effects of GM3 and GD3 gangliosides, purified from human melanoma tumors, on the differentiation of monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MoDC). At concentrations close to those detected in the sera from melanoma patients, both gangliosides dose-dependently inhibit the phenotypic and functional differentiation of MoDC, as assessed by a strong down-regulation of CD1a, CD54, CD80, and CD40 Ags and impaired allostimulatory function on day 6 of culture. Furthermore, GM3 and GD3 gangliosides decreased the viable cell yield and induced significant DC apoptosis. Finally, addition of GD3 to differentiating DC impaired their subsequent maturation induced by CD154. The resulting DC produced low amounts of IL-12 and large amounts of IL-10, a cytokine pattern that might hamper an efficient antitumor immune response. In conclusion, the results demonstrate that gangliosides impair the phenotypic and functional differentiation of MoDC and induce their apoptosis, which may be an additional mechanism of human melanoma escape.