hBD-3 facilitates mDC-NK crosstalk (INC6P.348)

• Published in: The Journal of immunology (1950) Vol. 192; no. Supplement_1; pp. 121 - 121.15
• Main Authors: Judge, Chelsey, Reyes, Elane, Conry, Sara, Sieg, Scott, Feng, Zhimin, Weinberg, Aaron, Anthony, Donald
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.05.2014
• ISSN: 0022-1767; 1550-6606
• DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.192.Supp.121.15

mDC and NK cells are involved in the innate immune response to pathogen, and bidirectional mDC-NK interactions are well described. hBD-3, an anti-microbial peptide, is known to activate mDC via TLR1/2. Here we investigated the effects of hBD-3 on mDC-NK interactions. We observed hBD-3 to activate PBMC to secrete IFN-γ and kill K562 and HUH hepatoma target cells in an mDC and NK dependent fashion, and both TLR1/2 and CCR2 were involved. In purified mDC-NK coculture experiments we observed hBD-3 to facilitate mDC and NK activation, IFNγ secretion, and killer activity. Activity was variable among healthy subject samples, in some cases dependent on TLR1/2, and in other cases dependent on CCR2. We observed TLR1/2 and CCR2 expression on both mDC and NK cells, with variability in expression among individuals. These results implicate hBD-3 in ability to directly activate NK cells, mDC, and facilitate mDC-NK interactions. HBD3 may therefore act as a mediator of innate cell interactions that result in bridging of innate and adaptive immunity.