CD83 Expression Is a Sensitive Marker of Activation Required for B Cell and CD4 super(+) T Cell Longevity In Vivo

• Published in: Journal of Immunology Vol. 179; no. 7; pp. 4550 - 4562
• Main Authors: Prazma, Charlene M, Yazawa, Norihito, Fujimoto, Yoko, Fujimoto, Manabu, Tedder, Thomas F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.10.2007
• ISSN: 0022-1767; 1365-2567

CD83 is a surface marker that differentiates immature and mature human dendritic cell populations. Thymic epithelial cell expression of CD83 is also necessary for efficient CD4 super(+) T cell development in mice. The altered phenotypes of peripheral B and CD4 super(+) T cells, and the reduction of peripheral CD4 super(+) T cells in CD83 super(-/-) mice, suggest additional functions for CD83. To assess this, a panel of mAbs was generated to characterize mouse CD83 expression by peripheral leukocytes. As in humans, activation of conventional and plasmacytoid murine dendritic cell subsets led to rapid up-regulation of CD83 surface expression in mice. In primary and secondary lymphoid compartments, a subset of B cells expressed low-level CD83, while CD83 was not detected on resting T cells. However, CD83 was prominently up-regulated on the majority of spleen B and T cells within hours of activation in vitro. In vivo, a low dose of hen egg lysozyme (1 mu g) induced significant CD83 but not CD69 expression by Ag-specific B cells within 4 h of Ag challenge. Although B cell development appeared normal in CD83 super(-/-) mice, B and CD4 super(+) T cell expression of CD83 was required for lymphocyte longevity in adoptive transfer experiments. Thus, the restricted expression pattern of CD83, its rapid induction following B cell and T cell activation, and its requirement for B cell and CD4 super(+) T cell longevity demonstrate that CD83 is a functionally significant and sensitive marker of early lymphocyte activation in vivo.