Type I IFNs enhance the terminal differentiation of dendritic cells

Abstract

This study identifies type I IFNs as activating cytokines in a serum- free system in which human dendritic cells (DC) were generated from CD34+ progenitor cells. After 14 days of culture in GM-CSF, TNF-α, and IL-4, CD34+ progenitors gave rise to a population of large, immature DC expressing CD1a and CD11b but lacking CD14, CD80, CD83, CD86, and CMRF44, during the next 2 wk, this population spontaneously matured into nonadherent, CD1a(low/- ) CD11b(low/-), CD14-, CD80+, CD83+, CD86+, CMRF44+ DC with high allostimulatory activity in the MLR. To examine which factors influenced this maturation, 25 different cytokines or factors were added to the immature DC culture. Only type I IFNs (α or β) ac..