Abstract
TRAIL (TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand) is a member of the TNF family that induces apoptosis in a variety of cancer cells. In this study, we demonstrate that human CD11c+ blood dendritic cells (DCs) express TRAIL after stimulation with either interferon (IFN)-γ or -α and acquire the ability to kill TRAIL-sensitive tumor cell targets but not TRAIL-resistant tumor cells or normal cell types. The DC-mediated apoptosis was TRAIL specific, as soluble TRAIL receptor blocked target cell death. Moreover, IFN- stimulated interleukin (IL)-3 receptor (R)α+ blood precursor (pre-)DCs displayed minimal cytotoxicity toward the same target cells, demonstrating a clear functional difference between the CD11c+ DC and IL-3Rα+ pre-DC subsets. These results indicate that TRAIL may serve as an innate effector molecule on CD11c+ DCs for the elimination of spontaneously arising tumor cells and suggest a means by which TRAIL-expressing DCs may regulate or eliminate T cells responding to antigen presented by the DCs.
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 1155-1164 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Journal of Experimental Medicine |
Volume | 190 |
Issue number | 8 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Oct 18 1999 |
Keywords
- Apoptosis
- Dendritic cells
- Human
- TRAIL
- Tumor