Real-time manipulation of T cell-dendritic cell interactions in vivo reveals the importance of prolonged contacts for CD4+ T cell activation

Immunity. 2007 Oct;27(4):625-34. doi: 10.1016/j.immuni.2007.08.018. Epub 2007 Oct 18.

Abstract

T cells interact with dendritic cells (DCs) for periods lasting from minutes to hours. However, a causal link between the duration of this interaction and the efficiency of T cell activation has not been established in vivo. Employing intravital two-photon imaging, we manipulated T cell-DC interactions in real time and found that the first T cell-DC encounter often resulted in a long-lived interaction. Moreover, the cessation of T cell receptor-major histocompatibility complex signals promoted cellular dissociation, suggesting that antigen availability on DCs regulates contact duration. Finally, at least 6 hr of in vivo T cell-DC interaction were required for naive CD4(+) T cells to undergo clonal expansion. These results establish the importance of prolonged T cell-DC interactions for efficient CD4(+) T cell activation in vivo.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigen Presentation / immunology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Cell Communication / immunology*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology*
  • Dendritic Cells / metabolism
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Immunologic Techniques
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Microscopy / methods
  • Time Factors