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Updated: Aug 6, 2026

Isolation and Characterization of Dendritic Cells and Macrophages from the Mouse Intestine
Published on: May 21, 2012
Vasoactive intestinal peptide: the dendritic cell --> regulatory T cell axis
Mario Delgado1, Elena Gonzalez-Rey, Doina Ganea
1Department of Biological Sciences, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, USA.
Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) promote tolerogenic dendritic cells (tDCs). These tDCs induce regulatory T cells (Treg), establishing antigen-specific tolerance and suppressing immune responses.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Neuroendocrinology
Background:
- Tolerogenic dendritic cells (tDCs) are crucial for maintaining peripheral tolerance by inducing regulatory T cells (Treg).
- Endogenous factors significantly influence the development and function of tDCs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of immunosuppressive neuropeptides, vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP), in the development of bone marrow-derived tDCs.
- To elucidate the functional characteristics and immunomodulatory effects of VIP/PACAP-generated tDCs.
Main Methods:
- Bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (DCs) were generated in the presence of VIP and PACAP.
- Phenotypic analysis of DCs was performed, including assessment of CD11c, CD45RB, CD80, CD86, and CD40 expression after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation.
- Interleukin-10 (IL-10) secretion was measured.
- The capacity of VIP/PACAP-generated DCs to induce functional Treg in vitro and in vivo was evaluated.
- Antigen-specific tolerance and delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) were assessed in vivo following VIP/DC administration.
Main Results:
- VIP and PACAP generated DCs with a distinct phenotype (CD11clowCD45RBhigh) that did not upregulate co-stimulatory molecules (CD80, CD86, CD40) upon LPS stimulation.
- These DCs secreted high levels of IL-10.
- VIP/PACAP-generated DCs effectively induced functional Treg in vitro and in vivo.
- Administration of VIP/DCs resulted in antigen-specific tolerance and suppressed DTH responses in mice.
- Adoptive transfer of T cells from VIP/DC-treated mice conferred suppression to naive recipients.
Conclusions:
- VIP and PACAP are endogenous factors that promote the development of tolerogenic dendritic cells.
- The VIP/PACAP-DC-Treg axis represents a novel mechanism contributing to the anti-inflammatory roles of these neuropeptides.
- These findings highlight the importance of the neuro-immune interaction in immune regulation, particularly in immune-privileged sites.
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