Elsevier

Mucosal Immunology

Volume 6, Issue 3, May 2013, Pages 626-638
Mucosal Immunology

Article
Functional diversity of human vaginal APC subsets in directing T-cell responses

https://doi.org/10.1038/mi.2012.104Get rights and content
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Abstract

Human vaginal mucosa is the major entry site of sexually transmitted pathogens and thus has long been attractive as a site for mounting mucosal immunity. It is also known as a tolerogenic microenvironment. Here, we demonstrate that immune responses in the vagina can be orchestrated by the functional diversity of four major antigen-presenting cell (APC) subsets. Langerhans cells (LCs) and CD14 lamina propria-dendritic cells (LP-DCs) polarize CD4+ and CD8+ T cells toward T-helper type 2 (Th2), whereas CD14+ LP-DCs and macrophages polarize CD4+ T cells toward Th1. Both LCs and CD14 LP-DCs are potent inducers of Th22. Owing to their functional specialties and the different expression levels of pattern-recognition receptors on the APC subsets, microbial products do not bias them to elicit common types of immune responses (Th1 or Th2). To evoke desired types of adaptive immune responses in the human vagina, antigens may need to be targeted to proper APC subsets with right adjuvants.

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Published online: 7 11 2012

SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL is linked to the online version of the paper

Supplementary information The online version of this article (doi:10.1038/mi.2012.104) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.