Effects of Liver-derived Dendritic Cell Progenitors on Th1- and Th2-like Cytokine Responses in Vitro and in Vivo

There is evidence that donor-derived dendritic cells (DC), particularly those at a precursor/immature stage, may play a role in the immune privilege of liver allografts. Underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. We have examined the influence of in vitro generated mouse liver-derived DC progenitors (DCp) on proliferative, cytotoxic, and Th1/Th2 cytokine responses induced in allogeneic T cells. Liver DCp, propagated in GM-CSF from C57B10 mice (H2b), induced only minimal proliferation, and weak cytotoxic responses in allogeneic (C3H; H2k) T cells compared with mature bone marrow (BM)-derived DC. Flow-cytometric analysis of intracellular cytokine staining revealed that mature BM DC, but not liver DCp, elicited CD4+ T cell production of IFN-gamma. Intracellular expression of IL-10 was very low in both BM DC- and liver DCp-stimulated CD4+ T cells. Only stimulation by liver DCp was associated with IL-10 secretion in primary MLR. Notably, these liver DCp cocultured with allogeneic T cells stained strongly for IL-10. Following local (s.c. ) injection in allogeneic recipients, both BM DC and liver DCp homed to T cell areas of draining lymph nodes and spleen, where they were readily detected by immunohistochemistry up to 2 wk postinjection. Liver DCp induced clusters of IL-10- and IL-4-secreting mononuclear cells, whereas Th2 cytokine-secreting cells were not detected in mice injected with mature BM DC. By contrast, comparatively high numbers of IFN-gamma+ cells were induced by BM DC. Modulation of Th2 cytokine production by donor-derived DCp may contribute to the comparative immune privilege of hepatic allografts.