IFN-λs and BDCA3⁺/CD8α⁺ dendritic cells: towards the design of novel vaccine adjuvants?

Abstract

Evaluation of: Lauterbach H, Bathke B, Gilles S et al. Mouse CD8α⁺ DCs and human BDCA3⁺ DCs are major producers of IFN-λ in response to poly IC. J. Exp. Med. 207(12), 2703–2717 (2010).

IFN-λs are related to type I interferons but their receptor has a more cell-restricted pattern of expression. Consequently, one can expect that IFN-λs have antiviral and anti-tumoral activities as well as immunomodulatory properties with less adverse side-effects than type I interferons. However, their roles in physiopathology and immunoregulation remain to be fully elucidated. The study under evaluation identifies that murine CD8α⁺ dendritic cells and their recently described human equivalent, BDCA3⁺ dendritic cells, are the major producers of IFN-λs in response to dsRNA poly I:C. This study illustrates a new function for a DC subset conserved between species. These findings may impact the development of vaccine or therapeutic strategies based on DC targeting.

Keywords::

• BDCA3⁺/CD8α⁺ dendritic cells
• human
• IFN-λs
• mouse
• poly I:C

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.