[IL-2/IL-2R pathway in dendritic cell modulates both their cytokine synthesis profiles and their capacity to activate allogeneic CD4+ T lymphocytes]

The results provide new insights into the role of IL-2/IL-2R pathway in DC. We report that stimulation of human monocyte-derived DC with LPS strongly upregulated CD25 (α chain of the IL-2R) expression. In addition, by using a humanized monoclonal antibody against CD25, we demonstrated that the IL-2 signalling in DC upregulated both IL-12 and γIFN production but decreased IL-10 synthesis. Anti-CD25 treatment reduced the ability of LPS-DC to induce allogeneic CD4(+) T cell proliferation as compared to LPS-matured DC. In addition, LPS-matured DC treated with IL-2 had a higher allostimulatory capacity compared to LPS-DC. We also found that LPS-matured DC produced IL-2. Thus, IL-2 seems to contribute actively to DC activation through an autocrine pathway. Moreover, IL-2 pathway in DC is involved in T helper priming. These findings might be useful for protocols in cellular therapy and a valuable tool to understand graft rejection versus the acquisition of peripheral tolerance.