Autocrine activation-induced cell death of T cells by human peripheral blood monocyte-derived CD4+ dendritic cells

Mature T cells activated by antigen (Ag)-presenting cells are subject to various downmodulatory processes designed to maintain T cell homeostasis. Here we describe experiments in which mature T cells were subjected to apoptosis following stimulation with CD4(+) dendritic cells (DCs) during Ag presentation. The proliferative response of allogeneic T cells was increased by DCs at stimulator to responder (S/R) ratios ranging from 10(-3) to 1, whereas this response was decreased at S/R ratios ranging from 2 to 10. Allogeneic T cells stimulated with DCs at an S/R ratio of 5 underwent apoptosis, whereas this event was not observed in allogeneic T cells stimulated with DCs at an S/R ratio of 0.5. Stimulation of T cells with DCs at an S/R ratio of 5 induced a higher level of expression of CD95 ligand (CD95L) than stimulation of T cells cultured with DCs at an S/R ratio of 0.5, whereas similar levels of expression of CD28 and CD154 were observed in both cells. The abortive proliferation of mature T cells stimulated with DCs was prevented by blocking the CD95-CD95L system. Our results suggest that the CD4(+) DCs play counterregulatory roles in dictating T cell responses during Ag presentation.