Cutting Edge: Expression of Functional CD137 Receptor by Dendritic Cells

• Published in: The Journal of immunology (1950) Vol. 168; no. 9; pp. 4262 - 4267
• Main Authors: Wilcox, Ryan A, Chapoval, Andrei I, Gorski, Kevin S, Otsuji, Mizuto, Shin, Tahiro, Flies, Dallas B, Tamada, Koji, Mittler, Robert S, Tsuchiya, Haruo, Pardoll, Drew M, Chen, Lieping
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Am Assoc Immnol 01-05-2002
• Subjects: Animals; Antibodies, Monoclonal - pharmacology; Antigens, CD; Cells, Cultured; Cytokines - biosynthesis; Dendritic Cells - immunology; Female; Hematopoietic Stem Cells - immunology; Lymphocyte Activation; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor - immunology; Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor - metabolism; Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor - physiology; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor - immunology; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor - metabolism; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor - physiology; Spleen - immunology; T-Lymphocytes - immunology; Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 9
• ISSN: 0022-1767; 1550-6606
• DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.168.9.4262

Interaction between dendritic cells (DCs) and T cells is a prerequisite for the initiation of a T cell response. The molecular nature of this interaction remains to be fully characterized. We report in this work that freshly isolated mouse splenic DCs and bone marrow-derived DCs express CD137 on the cell surface and in soluble form. Triggering CD137 increased the secretion of IL-6 and IL-12 from DCs. More importantly, infusion of an agonistic mAb to CD137 into naive mice enhanced the ability of DCs to stimulate T cell proliferation in response to both alloantigens and a nominal Ag in vitro. This enhancement of DC function is not mediated through activation of T cells, because the effect was also observed in RAG-1 knockout mice that lack T cells. Our findings implicate CD137 as an important receptor involved in the modulation of DC function.