IRF4 promotes cutaneous dendritic cell migration to lymph nodes during homeostasis and inflammation

• Published in: The Journal of immunology (1950) Vol. 189; no. 7; pp. 3368 - 3377
• Main Authors: Bajaña, Sandra, Roach, Kimberly, Turner, Sean, Paul, Jinny, Kovats, Susan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.10.2012
• Subjects: Animals; CD11b Antigen - biosynthesis; Cell Movement - immunology; Cells, Cultured; Dendritic Cells - cytology; Dendritic Cells - immunology; Dendritic Cells - pathology; Female; Homeostasis - immunology; Inflammation Mediators - metabolism; Inflammation Mediators - physiology; Interferon Regulatory Factors - deficiency; Interferon Regulatory Factors - genetics; Interferon Regulatory Factors - physiology; Lymph Nodes - cytology; Lymph Nodes - immunology; Lymph Nodes - pathology; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Knockout; Skin - cytology; Skin - immunology; Skin - pathology; Spleen - cytology; Spleen - immunology; Spleen - pathology
• DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1102613
• ISSN: 0022-1767

Migration of resident dendritic cells (DC) from the skin to local lymph nodes (LN) triggers T cell-mediated immune responses during cutaneous infection, autoimmune disease, and vaccination. In this study, we investigated whether the development and migration of skin-resident DC were regulated by IFN regulatory factor 4 (IRF4), a transcription factor that is required for the development of CD11b(+) splenic DC. We found that the skin of naive IRF4(-/-) mice contained normal numbers of epidermal Langerhans cells (eLC) and increased numbers of CD11b(+) and CD103(+) dermal DC (dDC) populations, indicating that tissue DC development and skin residency is not disrupted by IRF4 deficiency. In contrast, numbers of migratory eLC and CD11b(+) dDC were significantly reduced in the cutaneous LN of IRF4(-/-) mice, suggesting a defect in constitutive migration from the dermis during homeostasis. Upon induction of skin inflammation, CD11b(+) dDC in IRF4(-/-) mice did not express the chemokine receptor CCR7 and failed to migrate to cutaneous LN, whereas the migration of eLC was only mildly impaired. Thus, although dispensable for their development, IRF4 is crucial for the CCR7-mediated migration of CD11b(+) dDC, a predominant population in murine and human skin that plays a vital role in normal and pathogenic cutaneous immunity.