Toll-like receptor 9 suppression in plasmacytoid dendritic cells after IgE-dependent activation is mediated by autocrine TNF-α

Background: Functional significance for the alpha gamma(2) variant of the high-affinity IgE receptor (Fc epsilon RI) reportedly expressed on human dendritic cell subtypes remains poorly understood. Studies show that immature plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) secrete large quantities of TNF-alpha and IL-6 when directly stimulated with anti-IgE antibody. This mode of activation, however, reduces Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) expression in pDCs and their ability to mount an IFN-alpha response when subsequently activated with oligodeoxynucleotide containing CpG. Objective: To investigate the mechanisms underlying this IgE-dependent suppression of TLR9 and innate immune responsiveness in pDCs by focusing on autocrine cytokine responses. Methods: pDCs were isolated from blood by using blood dendritic cell antigen 4 selection. Cytokine responses to anti-IgE antibody-dependent and/or CpG-dependent stimulation were measured by using ELISA. TLR9 expression was determined by using quantitative RT-PCR and Western blotting. Results: The time required for downregulating TLR9 expression in pDCs after anti-IgE stimulation correlated with the induction and duration of TNF-alpha secreted by these cells. Pretreatment of pDCs with recombinant TNF-alpha (but not IL-6 or IL-10) markedly suppressed TLR9 expression. Functional response to CpG (ie, IFN-alpha induction) was also inhibited with TNF-alpha pretreatment (inhibitory concentration(50) = similar to 200 pg/mL). Finally, an antibody that neutralizes TNF-alpha activity completely restored TLR9 expression during anti-IgE stimulation and significantly improved IFN-a secretion on subsequent activation with CpG. Conclusion: Autocrine TNF-a secretion resulting from IgE/Fc epsilon RI-dependent activation plays a critical role in suppressing TLR9-dependent responses in pDCs that normally promote T(H)1 activity.