0000000000263586

AUTHOR

Jens Schwing

Maturation of Epidermal Langerhans Cells In Vitro Is Accompanied by Downregulation of 4F2 (CD98) as Determined by Differential Display

Following short-term culture, Langerhans cells mature morphologically and functionally into potent immunostimulatory cells. As regulation of gene expression accompanies this maturation process, it is likely that differentially expressed genes are involved in the maturation events. Using the recently described method of differential display, we generated cDNA expression patterns starting with mRNA of murine epidermal Langerhans cells isolated either directly (fLC) or following 3 d cultivation (cLC). Five hundred putative differentially expressed cDNA fragments were recovered from the gel. For a part of the fragments differential expression was confirmed by dot blot and Southern hybridization…

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Isolation of Differentially Expressed Genes in Epidermal Langerhans Cells

Epidermal Langerhans cells (LC) represent immature dendritic cells (DC) resident in the skin, which are not yet able to prime naive T cells1. In vitro cultivation of LC in the presence of keratinocytes, supplying survival and differentiation signals, induces maturation events in LC2. These are highlighted by the downregulation of the biosynthesis of MHC class II molecules3, by the upregulation of the surface expression of adhesion and costimulatory molecules like CD80, CD86, CD54 and CD584,5, and by the acquisition of a potent immunostimulatory capacity for T cells6. Mature LC are potent inducers of naive T cells. Thus LC represent an ideal model system to investigate the maturation of DC (…

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Mouse langerhans cells differentially express an activated T cell-attracting CC chemokine.

Epidermal Langerhans cells represent an immature population of dendritic cells, not yet able to prime naive T cells. Following in vitro culture Langerhans cells mature into potent immunostimulatory cells. We constructed a representative cDNA library of in vitro matured murine Langerhans cells. Applying a differential screening procedure 112 differentially expressed cDNA clones were isolated. Thirty-six clones represented cDNA fragments of the same gene, identifying it to be the most actively expressed gene induced in maturing Langerhans cells. A full-length cDNA was sequenced completely. The open reading frame codes for a protein of 92 amino acids containing a leader peptide of 24 amino aci…

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Diminished Contact Hypersensitivity Response in IL‐4 Deficient Mice at a Late Phase of the Elicitation Reaction

Contact hypersensitivity (CHS) is thought to depend on the activation of T cells of Th1 and/or Tc1 type. The role of Th2/Tc2 cells in the contact allergic reaction is not clear. The aim of this study was to analyse the functional contribution of Th2/Tc2 cells in CHS using the interleukin-4 (IL-4) deficient mouse model. Interleukin-4 deficient (IL4T) and control (wt) mice were sensitized by epicutaneous application of 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene. The ear swelling response measured 24 h after challenge was similar in IL4T and control mice. However, from 48 h onwards, ear swelling values were significantly reduced in IL4T mice. The stimulatory capacity of freshly isolated as well as 3-day culture…

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