Absence of MHC class II on cDCs results in microbial-dependent intestinal inflammation

• Published in: The Journal of experimental medicine Vol. 213; no. 4; pp. 517 - 534
• Main Authors: Loschko, Jakob, Schreiber, Heidi A, Rieke, Gereon J, Esterházy, Daria, Meredith, Matthew M, Pedicord, Virginia A, Yao, Kai-Hui, Caballero, Silvia, Pamer, Eric G, Mucida, Daniel, Nussenzweig, Michel C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States The Rockefeller University Press 04.04.2016
• Subjects: Animals; Antigen Presentation; Chronic Disease; Colitis - genetics; Colitis - immunology; Colitis - microbiology; Dendritic Cells - immunology; Dendritic Cells - pathology; Histocompatibility Antigens Class II - genetics; Histocompatibility Antigens Class II - immunology; Immunity, Innate; Inflammation - genetics; Inflammation - immunology; Inflammation - microbiology; Mice; Mice, Transgenic
• ISSN: 0022-1007; 1540-9538
• DOI: 10.1084/jem.20160062

Conventional dendritic cells (cDCs) play an essential role in host immunity by initiating adaptive T cell responses and by serving as innate immune sensors. Although both innate and adaptive functions of cDCs are well documented, their relative importance in maintaining immune homeostasis is poorly understood. To examine the significance of cDC-initiated adaptive immunity in maintaining homeostasis, independent of their innate activities, we generated a cDC-specific Cre mouse and crossed it to a floxed MHC class II (MHCII) mouse. Absence of MHCII on cDCs resulted in chronic intestinal inflammation that was alleviated by antibiotic treatment and entirely averted under germ-free conditions. Uncoupling innate and adaptive functions of cDCs revealed that innate immune functions of cDCs are insufficient to maintain homeostasis and antigen presentation by cDCs is essential for a mutualistic relationship between the host and intestinal bacteria.