Generation of interferon α-producing predendritic cell (pre-DC)2 from human CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells

Abstract

Upon viral stimulation, the natural interferon (IFN)-α/β-producing cells (IPCs; also known as pre-dendritic cells (DCs [2]) in human blood and peripheral lymphoid tissues rapidly produce huge amounts of IFN-α/β. After performing this innate antiviral immune response, IPCs can differentiate into DCs and strongly stimulate T cell-mediated adaptive immune responses. Using four-color immunofluorescence flow cyctometry, we have mapped the developmental pathway of pre-DC2/IPCs from CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells in human fetal liver, bone marrow, and cord blood. At least four developmental stages were identified, including CD34++CD45RA- early progenitor cells, CD34++CD45RA+ late progenitor cells, CD34+CD45RA++CD4+interleukin (IL)-3Rα++ pro-DC2, and CD34-CD45RA++ CD4+IL-3Rα++ pre-DC2/IPCs. Pro-DC2s have already acquired the capacity to produce large amounts of IFN-α/β upon viral stimulation and to differentiate into DCs in culture with IL-3 and CD40 ligand. CD34++ CD45RA- early progenitor cells did not have the capacity to produce large amounts of IFN-α/β in response to viral stimulation; however, they can be induced to undergo proliferation and differentiation into IPCs/pre-DC2 in culture with FLT3 ligand.