Antigen-presenting cells in allergy

doi:10.1067/mai.2001.117457

Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology

Volume 108, Issue 3, September 2001, Pages 329-339

https://doi.org/10.1067/mai.2001.117457 Get rights and content

Abstract

The complex interaction of the innate and adaptive immune system requires flexibility and cooperation among various cell types. In this regard, antigen-presenting-cells (APCs) play a pivotal role in transferring information from the periphery of the organism to lymphoid organs, where they initiate the activation of naive T cells. Dendritic cells, Langerhans’ cells (LCs), and macrophages are also critical in the induction of allergic inflammation by presenting allergens to T lymphocytes and by contributing to the local recruitment of effector cells. Because of a complex genetic background, atopic individuals exhibit a dysregulation of T cell–mediated immune mechanisms. Attempts to understand the role APCs play in these pathophysiologic conditions are in progress and may allow development of new treatment strategies. In this review we will focus on the biology of APCs and their unique role in the induction and control of allergic inflammation. (J Allergy Clin Immunol 2001;108:329-39.)

Section snippets

Origin and characteristics of APCs

Professional APCs are mainly divided into 2 systems: the DCs, including blood and tissue DCs and epidermal LCs, and the monocyte-macrophage system. All these cell types originate from pluripotent bone marrow CD34⁺ hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs). During their maturation process, DCs are characterized by different phenotypes and functions. In the immature state DCs have excellent skills for the surveillance of peripheral tissues. The capacity to take up and process antigens is high,

Atopy and receptors for IgE

Atopy defines a genetically determined predisposition for the development of diseases, such as allergic asthma, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, or AD, and the display of increased serum IgE levels against common environmental allergens. The high-affinity receptor for IgE (FcϵRI) is expressed on 2 distinct groups of cells: (1) constitutively on effector cells of anaphylaxis (ie, mast cells, basophils, and rarely eosinophils) and (2) variably on professional APCs. Although absent or present in very

Allergic bronchial asthma

Allergic asthma is a chronic inflammatory lung disease displaying clinical symptoms of airflow obstruction and bronchial hyperresponsiveness. DCs, macrophages, mast cells, neutrophils, eosinophils, and allergen-specific T_H2 lymphocytes play a major role in the development and maintenance of this condition. Most cases (95%) of childhood asthma are associated with atopy.⁴³

In the lung the DC network is located above the basement membrane of the airway epithelium, where it has access to inhaled

Allergic bronchial asthma

For the relief of symptoms, quick-acting and longacting aerosolized β-agonists in combination with inhalative corticosteroids are most widely used. To minimize potential side effects of corticosteroids, such as growth suppression in children, concomitant treatment with theophylline or leukotriene antagonists is used.⁶⁶ In children with AD and a positive atopic family background, the Early Treatment of the Atopic Child study could demonstrate the decreasing incidence of asthma by means of early

Conclusion

APCs are a heterogeneous group of cells with a crucial effect on the initiation and chronicity of atopic allergic diseases and contact allergy. They critically control T cell–mediated immune responses, thus directing the outcome of the encountered allergen toward silent elimination, allergy, or tolerance. Important progress is made by understanding the ontogenesis of APCs, which allows cultivation and delineation of subgroups of APCs with different functions under special conditions in vitro.

Acknowledgements

We thank Dr Susanne Koch and Dr Jörg Weßendorf (Department of Dermatology, Bonn, Germany) for their critical reading of the manuscript.

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^☆: Supported by a grant from Merck & Co, Inc, West Point, Pa

^☆☆: Supported by grants of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)(RE 1350/1-1, SFB284/C8 and FOR 367/1-1).

^★: Reprint requests: Thomas Bieber, MD, PhD, Department of Dermatology, Friedrich-Wilhelms-University, Sigmund-Freud-Str. 25, 53105 Bonn, Germany.

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Molecular Mechanisms in Allergy and Clinical ImmunologyAntigen-presenting cells in allergy☆,☆☆,★

Abstract

Section snippets

Origin and characteristics of APCs

Atopy and receptors for IgE

Allergic bronchial asthma

Allergic bronchial asthma

Conclusion

Acknowledgements

Immunol Today

Clin Immunol Immunopathol

Immunol Today

Immunol Today

Immunol Today

Immunobiology

Immunobiology

J Invest Dermatol

Immunol Today

J Dermatol Sci

Immunol Today

Immunol Today

J Allergy Clin Immunol

Immunol Today

J Allergy Clin Immunol

J Allergy Clin Immunol

Allergy-associated polymorphisms of the Fc epsilon RI beta subunit do not impact its two amplification functions

J Immunol

Atopy and asthma: genetic variants of IL-4 and IL-13 signalling

Immunol Today

Fc epsilon RI expressing dendritic cells: the missing link in the pathophysiology of atopic dermatitis

J Dermatol

Atopic dermatitis: the skin as a window into the pathogenesis of chronic allergic diseases

J Allergy Clin Immunol

Dendritic cells and the control of immunity

Nature

Dendritic cells: from ignored cells to major players in T-cell-mediated immunity

Int Arch Allergy Immunol

A subset of human dendritic cells expresses IgA Fc receptor (CD89), which mediates internalization and activation upon cross-linking by IgA complexes

J Immunol

Functions of Fc receptors on human dendritic Langerhans cells

Int Rev Immunol

Human epidermal Langerhans cells express the high affinity receptor for immunoglobulin E (Fc epsilon RI)

J Exp Med

Cross-linking of monocyte plasma membrane Fc alpha, Fc gamma or mannose receptors induces TNF production

Immunology

Fc alpha receptors mediate release of tumour necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6 by human monocytes following receptor aggregation

Immunology

Id2 and Id3 inhibit development of CD34(+) stem cells into predendritic cell (Pre-DC)2 but not into pre-DC1. Evidence for a lymphoid origin of pre-dc2

J Exp Med

Human blood contains two subsets of dendritic cells, one immunologically mature and the other immature

Immunology

Will the making of plasmacytoid dendritic cells in vitro help unravel their mysteries?

J Exp Med

The enigmatic plasmacytoid T cells develop into dendritic cells with interleukin (IL)-3 and CD40-ligand

J Exp Med

Plasmacytoid monocytes express IL3-receptor alpha and differentiate into dendritic cells

Histopathology

Generation of interferon alphaproducing predendritic cell (Pre-DC)2 from human CD34(+) hematopoietic stem cells

J Exp Med

CD34+ hematopoietic progenitors from human cord blood differentiate along two independent dendritic cell pathways in response to GM-CSF+TNF alpha

Adv Exp Med Biol

GM-CSF and TNF-alpha cooperate in the generation of dendritic Langerhans cells

Nature

Efficient presentation of soluble antigen by cultured human dendritic cells is maintained by granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor plus interleukin 4 and downregulated by tumor necrosis factor alpha

J Exp Med

Macrophage inflammatory protein 3alpha is expressed at inflamed epithelial surfaces and is the most potent chemokine known in attracting Langerhans cell precursors

J Exp Med

Molecular Mechanisms in Allergy and Clinical Immunology
Antigen-presenting cells in allergy☆,☆☆,★