Interferon subtype stimulation of dendritic cells: Key activators of anti-viral immunity

James, C.M., Duffy, S., Pemberton, D., Armson, A. and Stumbles, P. (2008) Interferon subtype stimulation of dendritic cells: Key activators of anti-viral immunity. Cytokine, 43 (3). p. 309.

Abstract

Dendritic cells are elite antigen presenting cells and orchestrate effector immune mechanisms against virus infections. They play a role in antigen recognition, processing and presentation to T and B cells for effective viral clearance. Type I interferons (IFN) are innate cytokines that stimulate DC activation and enhance the capacity of DC to interplay with other immune cells. Although there is only one IFN-alpha receptor, multiple IFN-alpha subtypes exist with differential signal transduction pathways in the cell. Here, we investigate individual IFN subtypes for their effects on DC biology in influenza and Ross River virus infections using a mouse model. Bone marrow-derived DC from BALB/c mice were stimulated with individual IFN-alpha subtypes (alpha-1, "122, "124, "125, "127, "129, beta) and studied for expression of surface markers of activation, antigen processing and presentation capacity to T cells. We also evaluated direct effects of virus infection of DC in their production of endogenous type I IFN. Many virulent viruses have immune evasion strategies and dampen the host IFN response. We have investigated both H1N1 and H3N2 strains of influenza A virus and a virulent and less virulent human isolate of Ross River virus. These studies will increase our understanding of optimal IFN stimulation of DC for improved host anti-viral immunity. Targeted manipulation of DC with select IFN subtypes may enhance antigen-processing and immune-stimulating capacity of DC. Also, select IFN subtypes may be used as natural adjuvants to improve vaccine efficacy for the control of virus infections and disease.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Murdoch Affiliation(s):	School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences
Publisher:	Elsevier
Notes:	Appears In: Proceedings of the 7th Joint Conference of the International Cytokine Society and the International Society for Interferon and Cytokine Research. Montreal, Quebec, Canada, October 12-16, 2008
URI:	http://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/id/eprint/14261

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