MHC class II expression in human basophils: induction and lack of functional significance

Astrid L Voskamp; Sara R Prickett; Fabienne Mackay; Jennifer M Rolland; Robyn E O'Hehir

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0081777

MHC class II expression in human basophils: induction and lack of functional significance

PLoS One. 2013 Dec 9;8(12):e81777. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0081777. eCollection 2013.

Authors

Astrid L Voskamp¹, Sara R Prickett¹, Fabienne Mackay², Jennifer M Rolland¹, Robyn E O'Hehir¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Immunology, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia ; Department of Allergy, Immunology and Respiratory Medicine, The Alfred Hospital and Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
² Department of Immunology, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Abstract

The antigen-presenting abilities of basophils and their role in initiating a Th2 phenotype is a topic of current controversy. We aimed to determine whether human basophils can be induced to express MHC Class II and act as antigen presenting cells for T cell stimulation. Isolated human basophils were exposed to a panel of cytokines and TLR-ligands and assessed for MHC Class II expression. MHC Class II was expressed in up to 17% of isolated basophils following incubation with a combination of IL-3, IFN-γ and GM-CSF for 72 hours. Costimulatory molecules (CD80 and CD86) were expressed at very low levels after stimulation. Gene expression analysis of MHC Class II-positive basophils confirmed up-regulation of HLA-DR, HLA-DM, CD74 and Cathepsin S. However, MHC Class II expressing basophils were incapable of inducing antigen-specific T cell activation or proliferation. This is the first report of significant cytokine-induced MHC Class II up-regulation, at both RNA and protein level, in isolated human basophils. By testing stimulation with relevant T cell epitope peptide as well as whole antigen, the failure of MHC Class II expressing basophils to induce T cell response was shown not to be solely due to inefficient antigen uptake and/or processing.

MeSH terms

Antigen Presentation
Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte / genetics*
Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte / immunology
B7-1 Antigen / genetics
B7-1 Antigen / immunology
B7-2 Antigen / genetics
B7-2 Antigen / immunology
Basophils / cytology*
Basophils / drug effects
Basophils / immunology
Cathepsins / genetics
Cathepsins / immunology
Cells, Cultured
Coculture Techniques
Gene Expression
Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / pharmacology
HLA-D Antigens / genetics*
HLA-D Antigens / immunology
HLA-DR Antigens / genetics*
HLA-DR Antigens / immunology
Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / genetics*
Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / immunology
Humans
Interferon-gamma / pharmacology
Interleukin-3 / pharmacology
Th2 Cells / cytology*
Th2 Cells / drug effects
Th2 Cells / immunology

Substances

Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte
B7-1 Antigen
B7-2 Antigen
HLA-D Antigens
HLA-DM antigens
HLA-DR Antigens
Histocompatibility Antigens Class II
Interleukin-3
invariant chain
Interferon-gamma
Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor
Cathepsins
cathepsin S

Grants and funding

This work was supported by Ilhan Food Allergy Foundation, the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia and The Alfred Research Trust. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.