Enhanced antigen uptake but impaired cytokine production by monocyte-derived dendritic cells in uveitis patients

Wednesday, October 10, 2012 — Poster Session II
Noon – 2:00 p.m	Natcher Conference Center, Building 45	NEI	CLIN/TRANS-7

Authors

• P. Chen
• B. Liu
• L. Wei
• H. N. Sen
• Z. Li
• S. Hirani
• S. Jawad
• I. Thompson
• D. Ling
• R.B. Nussenblatt

Abstract

Non-infectious autoimmune uveitis is often characterized by cellular infiltration into the retinal layers. Macrophages and dendritic cells have implications in uveitis pathogenesis. We investigated the antigen uptake and cytokine production profile of monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MoDCs) in 10 uveitis patients and 10 healthy controls. We found that the antigen uptake of MoDCs was time dependent. MoDCs can be detected to capture albumin at 15 minutes after loaded with FITC-labeled albumin. About 70% of MoDCs become FITC positive at 60 minutes. Compared to healthy controls, MoDCs from uveitis patients showed elevated antigen uptake. Furthermore, we identified two subpopulations from MoDCs based on their antigen uptake capacity. Lower antigen uptake MoDCs showed higher expression of CD80, CD86 and PDL-1 as compared to the higher antigen uptake MoDCs; however they had a similar ability to stimulate allogenic T cells. In the presence of LPS, cytokines of IL-6, IL-10, and IL12p40/70 in MoDCs from healthy donors increased significantly while the levels of these cytokines did not change or tended to decrease in MoDCs from uveitis patients. In conclusion, MoDCs from uveitis patients demonstrate greater antigen uptake but have impaired cytokine production. Our observation may provide mechanistic insights for uveitis pathogenesis.

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