Cross-presentation by osteoclasts induces FoxP3 in CD8+ T cells

J Immunol. 2009 May 1;182(9):5477-87. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.0803897.

Abstract

Bone is remodeled throughout the life of an animal by the action of osteoclasts, which resorb bone, and osteoblasts, which form new bone. It has recently been recognized that T cells regulate osteoclasts by secreting a number of cytokines including type I and II IFNs and receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand. In this study, we show that osteoclasts produce chemokines that recruit CD8(+) T cells. Using transgenic OT-I mice, we found that in the presence of OVA, osteoclasts induced the secretion of IL-2, IL-6, and IFN-gamma as well as the proliferation of CD8(+) T cells. CD8(+) T cells activated by osteoclasts expressed FoxP3, CTLA4, and receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand. The FoxP3(+)CD8(+) T cells were anergic and suppressed dendritic cell priming of naive responder CD8(+) T cells. These results provide two novel observations for osteoimmunology: first, we demonstrate that osteoclasts can cross-present Ags to CD8(+) T cells. Second, these data show that osteoclasts are not only regulated by T cells, but they also can regulate T cells forming a feedback control loop. The induction of FoxP3 in T cells through a MHC class I-dependent manner provides a new mechanism to peripherally produce a regulatory T cell. These observations open a new avenue of investigation for the pathogenesis of autoimmune-mediated inflammatory bone diseases.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biomarkers / analysis
  • Biomarkers / metabolism
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism*
  • Cell Differentiation / immunology
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Chemokines / biosynthesis
  • Chemokines / metabolism
  • Cross-Priming / immunology*
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / biosynthesis*
  • Immunophenotyping
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Osteoclasts / classification
  • Osteoclasts / cytology
  • Osteoclasts / immunology*
  • Osteoclasts / metabolism*
  • Ovalbumin / immunology
  • Ovalbumin / metabolism

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Chemokines
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors
  • Foxp3 protein, mouse
  • Ovalbumin