LFA-1 activity state on dendritic cells regulates contact duration with T cells and promotes T-cell priming

A key event in the successful induction of adaptive immune responses is the antigen-specific activation of T cells by dendritic cells (DCs). Although LFA-1 (lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1) on T cells is considered to be important for antigen-specific T-cell activation, the role for LFA-1 on DCs remains elusive. Using 2 different approaches to activate LFA-1 on DCs, either by deletion of the αL-integrin cytoplasmic GFFKR sequence or by silencing cytohesin-1-interacting protein, we now provide evidence that DCs are able to make use of active LFA-1 and can thereby control the contact duration with naive T cells. Enhanced duration of DC/T-cell interaction correlates inversely with antigen-specific T-cell proliferation, generation of T-helper 1 cells, and immune responses leading to delayed-type hypersensitivity. We could revert normal interaction time and T-cell proliferation to wild-type levels by inhibition of active LFA-1 on DCs. Our data further suggest that cytohesin-1-interacting protein might be responsible for controlling LFA-1 deactivation on mature DCs. In summary, our findings indicate that LFA-1 on DCs needs to be in an inactive state to ensure optimal T-cell activation and suggest that regulation of LFA-1 activity allows DCs to actively control antigen-driven T-cell proliferation and effective immune responses.