Tolerance Induction by Transcutaneous Immunization through Ultraviolet-Irradiated Skin Is Transferable through CD4⁺CD25⁺ T Regulatory Cells and Is Dependent on Host-Derived IL-10

Animals

C57BL/6 mice were purchased from Charles Rivers Laboratories. IL-10 knockout (−/−) (13) and OT-I mice were purchased from The Jackson Laboratory. OT-I transgenic mice express a TCR specific to OVA residues 257–264 in the context of H2-K^b (14). For adoptive transfer, all C56BL/6 mice and OT-I mice were between the ages of 8 and 10 wk and sex-matched mice were used. All mice were housed under specific pathogen-free conditions and all procedures were approved by the Animal Care Committee of the University of British Columbia.

UV radiation

UV radiation was provided by four FS40 TL12 lamps (National Biological Corporation). FS40 lamps emit 3% in the UVC range, 45% UVB, and 52% UVA. The emission peak is at 310 nm (in the UVB range). The irradiance of the source at the center averaged 10 J/m²/s, as measured by an IL400A radiometer, using an SEL 240 UVB Detector (International Light). Groups of mice were anesthetized with ketamine hydrochloride (Bimeda-MTC) and xylazine (Bayer) and subsequently irradiated on shaved dorsal skin on 4 consecutive days (days 0–3, daily 1200 J/m²) before immunization. The ears of the mice were protected from radiation by opaque foil.

Peptides and proteins

OVA protein (OVA-V; Sigma-Aldrich) and BSA (Roche Diagnostic Systems) were used as immunogens. The H2-K^b-restricted immunodominant epitope of OVA-SIINFEKL (OVA_254–267-OVA peptide), the immunodominant I-A^b-restricted OVA peptide ISQAVHAAHAEINEAGR (OVA_323–339), and the control K^b-restricted peptide (2C-SIYRYYGL) were synthesized at the Nucleic Acid and Peptide Synthesis Facility of the University of British Columbia and purified to over 80% purity.

Adoptive transfer of T cells

OT-I T cells were isolated from the pooled lymph nodes (LNs) and spleen of naive OT-I mice. CD8⁺ T cells were purified by positive selection using CD8 microbeads (Miltenyi Biotec) according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Purity was routinely >90%. OT-I CD8⁺ T cells were labeled with CFSE (Molecular Probes) and 5 × 10⁶ were injected into the lateral tail vein on the second day of UV irradiation. Mice were immunized 24 h after the last irradiation (day 4). Mice were euthanized 3 days (day 7) following immunization and the skin draining LNs were harvested for analysis.

In experiments with adoptive transfer of CD4⁺ T cells, peripheral draining LNs were pooled and CD4 T cells were positively selected to >95% purity using CD4⁺ microbeads (Miltenyi Biotec). For adoptive transfer of CD4⁺CD25⁻ cells, peripheral draining LN cells were pooled and CD25⁻ cells were first negatively selected using mouse anti-CD25 PE and PE selection beads (Stem Cell Technologies). Cells were then washed with washing buffer and CD4⁺CD25⁻ cells were next positively selected using CD4⁺ microbeads (Miltenyi Biotec). In separate experiments, CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells were positively purified from skin draining LN cells and splenocytes using microbeads (Miltenyi Biotec) to a purity of >90%. Where indicated, CFSE-labeled OT-1 cells were cotransferred with the donor LNs. Mice were then immunized 24 h after the transfer and skin draining LNs were harvested 3 days later.

Epicutaneous immunization

Protein or peptide immunization was performed as previously described (15, 16) 1 day after the last UV irradiation or sham irradiation. Mice were anesthetized with ketamine and xylazine. Animals were then immunized with OVA (500 μg), OVA_254–267 (25 μg), or OVA_323–339 (200 μg) with adjuvant, cholera toxin (25 μg; Sigma-Aldrich) or 500 μg of CpG (oligodeoxynucleotide 1826 5′-TCCATGACGTTCCTGACGTT-3′, prepared by the Oligonucleotide Synthesis Facility of the University of British Columbia) after tape-stripping of the shaved back skin. All immunogens were applied in 50 μl of PBS followed by tape occlusion for 24–48 h. In selected experiments, mice were immunized once and boosted with the same immunogens 1 wk later.

Flow cytometry

Cells were immunostained with various combinations of fluorescence-conjugated Abs and analyzed by four-channel FACS using a FACSCalibur flow cytometer (BD Biosciences) and CellQuest software (BD Biosciences). Anti-mouse fluorescent Abs to CD8⁺ (clone 53-6.7), CD4⁺ (clone RM 4-5), IFN-γ (clone MG1.2), CD25 (clone PC61), CD45R/B220 (clone RA3-6B2), CD11c (clone HL3), and CD40 (clone 3/23) were purchased from BD Pharmingen. Ab for Foxp3 (clone FJK-16s) was from eBioscience. Staining was conducted in PBS (Invitrogen Life Technologies) with 2% FCS (Invitrogen Life Technologies).

Peptide-specific transgenic CD8⁺ T cells were identified using a PE-conjugated K^b-OVA tetramer (Beckman Coulter) after gating for B220⁻ LN cells or splenocytes. CFSE was used to track OT-I T cell proliferation in the recipient mice. For intracellular cytokine staining, single-cell suspensions from peripheral draining LNs were stimulated with PMA and ionomycin, and treated with GolgiStop (all from BD Pharmingen) for 4 h at 37°C. Cells were then washed and stained for surface molecules and fixed with lysis buffer (BD Pharmingen). After treatment with Perm/Wash buffer (BD Pharmingen), cells were stained for IFN-γ. For intracellular Foxp3 staining, cells treated in a similar manner without in vitro stimulation. For the staining of Ag-bearing DC, mice were immunized with 500 μg of OVA-FITC (Molecular Probes) and CpG (500 μg) on the upper back. Draining LN were harvested 18 h after immunization, pooled cells from two mice were released with collagenase (Bayer), and CD11c⁺ cells were positively selected using microbeads before staining with Abs to CD11c and CD40.

In vivo killing assay

Freshly isolated splenocytes from C56BL/6 mice were separately incubated in RPMI 1640 medium (Invitrogen Life Technologies) and 10% FCS with OVA peptide or control (2C) peptide at a concentration of 1 μg/ml for 1 h at 37°C. Control peptide-pulsed splenocytes were then labeled with 0.5 μM CFSE and OVA peptide-pulsed splenocytes with 5 μM CFSE in PBS to allow tracking of the different populations in vivo. Labeled cells were pooled in a 1:1 ratio and injected at 10⁷ cells/mouse into the lateral tail vein. Disappearance of CFSE-labeled cells was tracked using FACS analysis of freshly isolated LN cells 24 h after the injection.

Epidermal sheet preparation

Ear or back skin from both UV-irradiated and nonirradiated groups was placed in 0.5 M ammonium thiocyanate (0.1 M phosphate buffer (pH 6.8); Sigma-Aldrich) at 37°C for 20 min. The epidermis was separated from dermis, washed with PBS, and dried at room temperature. After fixing with acetone, epidermal sheets were incubated with biotin-conjugated anti-mouse I-A^b (clone AF6-120.1; BD Pharmingen) for 1 h at room temperature followed by incubation with streptavidin-Alexa Fluor 488 conjugate (Molecular Probes) for 30 min. After washing with PBS, the sheets were mounted in mounting medium (Vector Laboratories) and images were captured with a Zeiss Axioplan epifluorescent microscope equipped with a COHO-CCD camera (Photometrics).

Protein contact hypersensitivity

Mice were immunized twice over 2 days with OVA protein (500 μg) and CpG (500 μg) beginning 24 h after 4 days UV irradiation or were irradiated for 4 days beginning 24 h following the second immunization as indicated. Seven days after the second immunization, each side of the right ear was challenged by applying OVA protein (100 μg) and CpG (100 μg) in 12.5 μl DMSO (Sigma-Aldrich) after tape-stripping twice. The left ear was challenged with DMSO only. The thickness of the ears was then measured with an engineer’s micrometer (Mitutuyo) at 12, 24, 48, 76, and 96 h after challenge and changes in the left ear were subtracted from those on the right. In experiments involving the transfer of LN cells into naive mice, donor mice were immunized once with OVA protein (500 μg) and CpG (500 μg) beginning 24 h after 4 days UV irradiation. Two days later, CD4⁺CD25⁺ cells were isolated from LNs and spleens. A total of 2 × 10⁶ of these cells was transferred by i.v. injection into naive mice. Recipients were then OVA-immunized with OVA protein (500 μg) and CpG (500 μg) on the back skin and this was repeated once 2 days later. Mice were challenged with OVA on the ears 7 days after the last immunization.

Statistical analysis

Groups were compared using two-tailed Student’s t tests and results were displayed using Prism 3 (GraphPad software).

UV irradiation impairs the transcutaneous priming of CTL to protein but not peptide Ag

UV irradiation impairs the sensitization to haptens subsequently applied to the irradiated skin area. We and others have demonstrated that the skin is an excellent site for the immunization to protein or peptide Ag (8, 15, 16, 17). TCI with protein or peptide Ag in the presence of cholera toxin adjuvant results in robust and durable Ag-specific CTL responses (16). We asked whether the induction of Ag-specific CTL is impaired when TCI proceeds through UV-irradiated skin. To this end, C57BL/6 mice were exposed to low dose UV radiation mainly in the UVB range (290–320 nm) on four consecutive days and then immunized with OVA protein or the immunodominant K^b-restricted OVA-peptide Ag in the presence of cholera toxin adjuvant on the previously irradiated skin. We studied the priming of CTL to the K^b-restricted immunodominant peptide using adoptive transfer technology. Naive K^b-OVA-restricted CFSE-labeled OT-1 cells were adoptively transferred before irradiation and immunization and the level of proliferation and intracellular IFN-γ expression of these cells within the skin draining LNs was determined 3 days following immunization (Fig. 1⇓A). As expected, application of either OVA peptide or protein resulted in the proliferation of OT-1 cells and their full activation as determined by IFN-γ production. Proliferation was more marked, as determined by absolute numbers and CFSE dilution, following immunization with protein than peptide. Immunization through UV-irradiated skin profoundly inhibited the priming of OVA-specific CTL to protein immunogen but not to the class I MHC(K^b)-restricted peptide immunogen (Fig. 1⇓, A and B). Immunization with FITC-labeled OVA allowed the detection of Ag-bearing DCs within the draining LN. Consistent with the diminished CTL responses in response to protein immunization, the fraction of OVA-bearing CD11c⁺ DC was diminished in irradiated and immunized mice (Fig. 1⇓C). Furthermore, Ag-bearing CD11c⁺ DC within the draining LN expressed diminished levels of the costimulatory molecule, CD40. Surprisingly, CTL priming to transcutaneous class I MHC-restricted peptide administration was intact (Fig. 1⇓, A and B) despite an absence of Langerhans cells (LC) following irradiation (Fig. 1⇓D).

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FIGURE 1.

UV irradiation impairs the transcutaneous priming of CTL to protein but not peptide Ag. Mice (three per group) were irradiated with 1200 J/m² UVB daily for 4 days or sham-irradiated. Mice were then immunized on tape-stripped skin with cholera toxin and either OVA or the immunodominant K^b-restricted peptide, SIINFEKL (OVA peptide). CFSE-labeled OT-1 cells were adoptively transferred after the second dose of UV irradiation, and analysis was completed 3 days after immunization. UV light abrogated CTL responses to epicutaneous protein but not to peptide alone. A, Representative histograms (left panels) indicating serial CFSE dilution of proliferating OT-1 cells identified by gating on K^b-OVA-positive, CD8⁺ T cells are shown. Numbers indicate the percentage of OT-1 cells that have divided at least once. Representative dot plots (right panels) indicating CFSE dilution and IFN-γ production by OT-1 cells in naive, sham-irradiated, and immunized or irradiated and immunized mice. Numbers represent the percentage of OT-1 cells having divided at least once that express IFN-γ. B, Aggregate data (n = 3) on the fraction of OT-1 cells among CD8⁺ T cells recovered from the skin draining LN (upper panel), the percentage of OT-1 cells that have divided within the draining LN (middle panel), and the percentage of OT-1 cells expressing IFN-γ (lower panel). Error bars represent SEM. C, UV irradiation decreased the fraction of Ag-bearing CD11c⁺ DCs within the skin draining LNs. Mice were immunized with OVA-FITC and CpG adjuvant following UV irradiation (UV) or sham irradiation (no UV). CD11c⁺ DCs were isolated from the skin draining LNs 18 h later and analyzed for the presence of OVA-FITC and for CD40 expression (representative experiment of a series of three). D, Epidermal sheets were stained for class II MHC expression (indicative of LCs) following UV irradiation. Peptide-specific responses occurred despite an absence of LCs at the time of immunization. Original enlargement was ×20.

To determine whether CTL priming by TCI through UV-irradiated skin is impaired in the absence of the high CTL precursor frequency following adoptive transfer of OT-1 cells, mice were immunized with protein following UV or sham irradiation, boosted 1 wk later (again following UV or sham irradiation) and CTL precursor frequencies were determined by K^b OVA-specific tetramer staining. In these experiments, CpG adjuvant was used as it is a potent inducer of Th1 immune responses and an effective adjuvant for the induction of CTL by the transcutaneous route (15). Immunization in the absence of UV irradiation resulted in 5 ± 0.7% OVA-specific CTL among the CD8⁺ T cells in the peripheral LN, whereas the percentage of OVA-specific CTL detected following UV irradiation was significantly lower (0.7 ± 0.07%; p < 0.002) and similar to naive mice (Fig. 2⇓, A and B, right panels). To determine whether the cytotoxic function of these cells was affected, splenocytes were differentially loaded with CFSE and pulsed with control or OVA peptide before transfer into immunized hosts (Fig. 2⇓, A and B, left panels). A significant reduction in OVA peptide-pulsed spleen cells (labeled with a high concentration of CFSE) when compared with control peptide-pulsed spleen cells (labeled with a low concentration of CFSE) was detected in unirradiated and immunized but not irradiated and immunized hosts (66 ± 9% reduction vs 1% ± 7%; p < 0.003). To establish physiologic significance, we induced protein contact hypersensitivity in a fashion modeled upon standard hapten-mediated contact hypersensitivity experiments. Mice were immunized and then challenged with OVA protein on the ear 7 days following immunization and ear swelling was determined (Fig. 2⇓C). Mice immunized with OVA demonstrated significant ear swelling with a maximum at 72 h following challenge. Mice treated with UV radiation immediately following immunization also demonstrated significant ear swelling, demonstrating that repeated low dose UV irradiation following immunization does not inhibit a protein contact elicitation response and is not systemically immunosuppressive. In contrast, mice immunized after UV irradiation developed minimal ear swelling. In allergic contact dermatitis and contact hypersensitivity to haptens, both CD8⁺ and CD4⁺ T cells are activated in the draining LNs. Ear swelling responses are, however, predominantly due to CD8⁺ T cells, and CD4⁺ T cells contribute only when there is a deficient CD8⁺ T cell pool (18). Ear swelling responses following OVA protein sensitization could be elicited by whole OVA protein, class I MHC-restricted OVA_254–267 peptide or class II MHC-restricted OVA_323–334 peptide (data not shown). Thus, in the absence of UV irradiation before protein immunization, either CD8⁺ T cells or CD4⁺ T cells could contribute to an ear swelling response in this model. The UV-mediated inhibition of ear swelling to protein elicitation observed may be due to inhibitory effects on the priming of Ag-specific CD8⁺ T cells (as demonstrated here) and/or inhibitory effects on CD4⁺ T cells.

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FIGURE 2.

UV irradiation before TCI impairs the induction of protein contact dermatitis. Mice were irradiated with low-dose UV or sham-irradiated and then immunized with OVA protein and CpG adjuvant on tape-stripped skin. Mice received further irradiation or sham irradiation followed by a single boost. Draining LN were removed on day 14 and analyzed for the presence of OVA-specific CTL using tetramer staining as demonstrated by representative dot plots (A) on the right. Percentages indicate the proportion of K^b-OVA tetramer-positive CD8⁺ T cells among all CD8⁺ T cells. Aggregate data of three experiments (n = 7 mice/group) is shown. In vivo cytotoxicity of OVA-Ag-specific CTL was determined using CFSE-labeled and peptide-pulsed splenocytes. Splenocytes were pulsed with control peptide (low CFSE staining) or OVA peptide (high CFSE staining) and transferred to immunized mice. Survival was determined by FACS-based population analysis of skin draining LN cells 24 h later. Representative histograms with percent reduction of cognate peptide-pulsed splenocytes are depicted in A (left figures). Aggregate data (n = 7 mice/group) is presented in B (left figure). Effect of UV irradiation on the induction of protein contact hypersensitivity is depicted in C. Mice (n = 3/group) were immunized with OVA protein and CpG adjuvant. Mice were either irradiated with UV for four consecutive days before or for four consecutive days after immunization. For elicitation, OVA protein and CpG were applied to the ears 1 wk following immunization and ear swelling response was assessed daily. ∗, A significant difference between indicated data points and unimmunized control.

TCI with protein through UV-irradiated skin induces transferable Ag-specific tolerance

In addition to unresponsiveness, sensitization to haptens through UV-irradiated skin induces hapten-specific tolerance. This tolerance is transferable as T cells from irradiated and immunized mice can be transferred into naive mice and these naive recipients are subsequently refractory to immunization with the same hapten (10). To determine whether protein immunization through UV-irradiated skin likewise induces tolerance, we performed adoptive transfer experiments using the skin draining LN cells of previously immunized mice (Fig. 3⇓, A and B). Mice receiving LN cells from donors immunized following UV irradiation were immunized transcutaneously with OVA protein and CpG adjuvant. CTL generation was monitored by the response of adoptively cotransferred and CFSE labeled OT-1 cells. Mice receiving donor LN cells depleted of CD4⁺ T cells demonstrated enhanced CTL generation (as determined by CFSE dilution and IFN-γ production) when compared with mice not receiving donor cells (Fig. 3⇓B). In contrast, mice that received LN cells that were not depleted of CD4⁺ T cells had diminished OVA-specific CTL proliferative responses compared with control mice not receiving donor cells. This inhibition of CTL priming was dependent upon UV irradiation and Ag exposure in the donors (Fig. 3⇓C). The response was Ag-specific as only donors immunized through irradiated skin with OVA and not control protein were able to inhibit Ag-specific IFN-γ production by OT-1 cells in recipients (Fig. 3⇓D). Thus, CD4⁺ T cells from the LNs of UV-treated and protein-immunized mice prevented the subsequent priming of CD8⁺ T cells to protein immunogen in an Ag-specific manner. Similar to immunization with full protein, T cells from donors immunized with the class II MHC-restricted OVA_323–334 peptide were able to inhibit the priming of OT-1 cells following TCI with OVA protein (data not shown). This suggested that the tolerance is mediated by CD4⁺ T cells responding to the class II-restricted epitope of OVA.

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FIGURE 3.

TCI with protein through UV-irradiated skin induces transferable Ag-specific tolerance. Donor mice were irradiated with UV before TCI with OVA. Two days after immunization, peripheral LN cells were obtained and CD4⁺ T cells were depleted or not before adoptive transfer into naive mice. CFSE-labeled OT-1 CD8⁺ T cells were cotransferred and the recipient mice were immunized transcutaneously with OVA. A, Representative histograms indicating OT-1 cell proliferation at 3 days following immunization. Numbers represent the percentage of OT-1 cells that divided at least once. B, Aggregate data from two experiments. The proportion of OT-1 cells that had proliferated at lease once was determined and normalized to mice immunized in the absence of adoptive transfer (no transfer, control) (n = 3 mice/group; bars indicate SEM). C, OT proliferation in immunized mice receiving donor cells from mice exposed to UV and immunization, UV irradiation only, or immunization only. D, OT-1 proliferative and IFN-γ responses in mice receiving CD4⁺ cells from irradiated and OVA-immunized or control protein (BSA)-immunized donors. The results are normalized to values obtained in the absence of adoptive transfer (No transfer, control). A descriptive diagram of the experimental protocol used in this series of experiments accompanies this panel.

CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells mediate Ag-specific tolerance following TCI through UV-irradiated skin

UV radiation-induced hapten-specific T_reg cells have recently been characterized as expressing CD4 and CD25 and thus belong to a increasingly well-characterized subset of T_reg cells (11). To determine whether the Ag-specific CD4⁺ T cells that inhibit CD8⁺ T cell priming belong to this subset, we used complementary approaches. In an initial approach, CD4⁺ T cells were positively selected from the skin draining LN of UV-irradiated and immunized mice. In some experiments, these cells were further depleted of CD25⁺ T cells before adoptive transfer. Recipient mice were next immunized with OVA and CpG adjuvant and CTL priming was assessed by OT-1 transfer (Fig. 4⇓A). Mice receiving CD4⁺ cells containing the CD25⁺ subset demonstrated diminished CTL-priming responses, whereas mice receiving CD4⁺ cells depleted of the CD25⁺ subset did not. To confirm that the CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells could potently inhibit CTL priming, CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells from UV-immunized mice were next positively selected and transferred into naive animals (Fig. 4⇓B). Recipient mice were then immunized and boosted once with OVA protein and CpG. OVA-specific CTL were enumerated using K^b-OVA tetramers. Mice receiving CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells from OVA-immunized animals through UV-irradiated skin did not generate OVA-specific CTL. Furthermore, OVA protein contact hypersensitivity was completely abrogated in these animals (Fig. 4⇓C). Comparison of the frequency of CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells within the draining LN of UV-irradiated mice demonstrated an increase in the fraction of CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells following UV irradiation (from 10 ± 0.9% of the CD4⁺ T cell population to 14 ± 1.3% of the CD4⁺ T cell population; p < 0.05). The expression of the Foxp3 transcription factor by T cells has been associated with the acquisition of regulatory function and studies support the use of this protein as a marker of T_reg cells (19, 20). To further characterize the CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells induced by UV irradiation, they were stained for Foxp3 expression (Fig. 4⇓D). High levels of Foxp3 were detected in the CD4^highCD25^high cell subset in UV-exposed and control animals. Regardless of treatment status, the CD4⁺CD25⁺ gated cells were over 85% Foxp3 positive, consistent with a regulatory phenotype. Thus, CD4⁺CD25⁺ cells from UV-irradiated and OVA-immunized mice express Foxp3 and contain a subset of cells that prevent OVA-specific CTL priming and mediate Ag-specific tolerance to OVA protein.

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FIGURE 4.

CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells mediate Ag-specific tolerance following TCI through UV-irradiated skin. A, Donor mice were irradiated or sham-irradiated before TCI with OVA and CpG adjuvant. Two days after immunization, skin draining LN were removed and CD25⁺ cells were depleted or not. CD4⁺ cells were next positively selected. Total CD4⁺ T cells and CD4⁺/CD25⁻ T cells were cotransferred with OT-I CD8⁺ T cells into unirradiated recipients that were then skin transcutaneously immunized with OVA protein. OT-I responses (proliferation and IFN-γ production) in the skin draining LNs were assessed 3 days later. The left set of figures show representative dot plots indicating OT-1 cell proliferation and IFN-γ production. Aggregate data (two experiments) is presented to the right (n = 4 mice/group). B, CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells from donor-irradiated and immunized mice were purified and transferred into naive mice. These mice were next immunized s.c. with 100 μg of OVA protein and given 250 μg of CpG epicutaneously and boosted once 1 wk later. The frequency of Ag-specific CTL within the LN was determined at day 13 by tetramer staining. Upper panels, Representative dot plots and the numbers indicate the percent K^b-OVA-specific CTL among the CD8⁺ T cells. Aggregate data is presented in the lower panel (n = 3). C, The induction of protein contact hypersensitivity is inhibited by the adoptive transfer of CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells from OVA-immunized mice. D, UV light increases the proportion of CD25^+(high) among the CD4⁺ T cells in the skin draining LNs. Mice (n = 6) received either four daily UV treatments or sham irradiation. The percentage of CD25⁺ T cells within the CD4^high T cell population was determined (left panel). The CD4^highCD25^high T cell subset but not the CD4^intCD25^high or CD4^highCD25⁻ subsets of T cells express high levels of intracellular Foxp3 with or without UV treatment (right panel).

Variable effect of IL-10 on protein tolerance induction through UV-irradiated skin

IL-10 significantly contributes to the UV suppression of contact hypersensitivity. UV irradiation of the skin results in release of IL-10 from different cells such as, keratinocytes, T cells, B cells, and infiltrating macrophages/monocytes to the skin. To investigate the role of IL-10 in the inhibition of OVA-specific CTL priming following protein immunization through UV-irradiated skin, we compared the effect of UV irradiation on CTL priming in IL-10-sufficient and IL-10-deficient mice (Fig. 5⇓A). IL-10^−/− mice did not demonstrate a decrease in OVA-specific CTL priming following UV irradiation in contrast to IL-10-sufficient animals (Fig. 5⇓, A and B; n = 6/group; p < 0.003). To determine whether IL-10 is required for the generation of UV-induced T_reg cells, CD4⁺ T cells from UV-irradiated and immunized IL-10-sufficient or -deficient donors were transferred into mice that were subsequently immunized with OVA. Surprisingly, donor cells from either IL-10-sufficient or -deficient animals were able to mediate suppression of CD8⁺ T cell priming. Thus, UV-induced T_reg cells do not require IL-10 for generation and do not require T_reg-derived IL-10 for their tolerogenic activity. To determine whether UV-induced T_reg cells require IL-10 derived from other host cells for their tolerogenic activity, CD4⁺ cells from UV-irradiated and immunized C57BL/6 hosts (IL-10 sufficient) were transferred into IL-10-sufficient or -deficient hosts. These mice were then immunized and CTL priming was assessed (Fig. 5⇓D). Donor cells were unable to inhibit the priming of OT-1 cells in IL-10-deficient hosts indicating that IL-10 is required for the biologic activity of UV-T_reg cells but that this IL-10 is not from the UV-T_reg cells. Thus, host-derived IL-10 is necessary for maintaining the tolerance-inducing properties of T_reg cells generated through TCI of UV-irradiated skin.

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FIGURE 5.

Variable effect of IL-10 on protein tolerance induction through UV-irradiated skin. A and B, IL-10^−/− or IL-10-sufficient C57BL/6 animals were irradiated or sham-irradiated and immunized with OVA. OT-1 cells were adoptively transferred on day 2 of irradiation and before immunization. OT-1 cells from the skin draining LN were assayed for proliferation (left histograms) and IFN-γ production (right dot plots) 3 days postimmunization. Representative histograms and dot plots are presented in A, and aggregate data of two experiments (n = 6/group) are presented in B. C, IL-10-sufficient or -deficient animals were next used as donor following irradiation and immunization. CD4⁺ T cells were transferred into recipient mice (n = 6/group), and these were next immunized with OVA and received OT-I CD8⁺ T cells in cotransfer. IFN-γ production by OT-I T cells on day 3 was determined. IL-10-deficient CD4⁺ T cells were able to transfer tolerance. Error bars indicate SEM. D, C57BL/6 donor mice were irradiated and immunized with OVA, and CD4⁺ T cells were used for adoptive transfer into IL-10-deficient or -sufficient recipients. OT-I priming following transcutaneous OVA immunization with CpG adjuvant was determined. IL-10-sufficient (B6) but not deficient recipients were tolerized. Bars indicate SEM.