CIITA-regulated plexin-A1 affects T-cell-dendritic cell interactions

Nat Immunol. 2003 Sep;4(9):891-8. doi: 10.1038/ni960. Epub 2003 Aug 10.

Abstract

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II transactivator (CIITA) is the 'master coactivator' of MHC class II genes. To identify new targets of CIITA, we analyzed cDNA microarrays of dendritic cells (DCs) from CIITA-deficient, MHC class II-deficient and control mice. We found the semaphorin receptor plexin-A1 was expressed in DCs, but not in other immune cells, and was strongly induced by CIITA. RNA interference by short hairpin RNA specific for plexin-A1, but not a single-nucleotide mutant, greatly reduced plexin-A1 expression and T cell stimulation by protein- or peptide-antigen-pulsed DCs.Plexin-A1 is not required for peptide binding to MHC. These data indicate involvement of plexin-A1 in T cell-DC interactions but not antigen processing or binding.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Cell Communication / immunology*
  • Crosses, Genetic
  • DNA, Complementary / chemistry
  • DNA, Complementary / genetics
  • Dendritic Cells / cytology
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology*
  • Down-Regulation / immunology
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Genes, MHC Class II
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Inbred DBA
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / immunology*
  • Nuclear Proteins*
  • Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / genetics
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Trans-Activators / immunology*
  • Transcriptional Activation / immunology

Substances

  • DNA, Complementary
  • MHC class II transactivator protein
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Plxna1 protein, mouse
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • Trans-Activators

Associated data

  • GENBANK/X16612