Ambivalent effects of dendritic cells displaying prostaglandin E2-induced indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE(2)), an abundantly produced lipid messenger in mammalian organisms, has been attributed to possess potent albeit ambivalent immunological functions. Recently, PGE(2) has been reported to stimulate the commonly believed immunosuppressive indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) pathway in human dendritic cells (DCs), but without promoting DC immunosuppressive activity. Here, we report that PGE(2) used as a DC maturation agent apparently has more diverse functions. PGE(2)-matured DCs acquired powerful IDO activity, which was sustained even after removing PGE(2). These IDO-competent DCs were able to stimulate allogeneic T-cell proliferation, but achieved inhibitory activity as their content in DC/T-cell co-cultures increased. The DC inhibitory activity was reversed upon blockade of IDO activity, confirming that the suppressive effect was in fact mediated by IDO and occurred in a dose-dependent fashion. IDO-mediated T-cell suppression was restored upon re-stimulation of T cells in the absence of IDO activity, confirming its reversibility. T cells stimulated by PGE(2)-matured IDO-competent DCs were sensitized to produce multiple cytokines, comprising Th1, Th2, and Th17 phenotypes. Collectively, these data suggest that T cells stimulated by PGE(2)-matured DCs are not terminally differentiated and their ultimate type of response may be formed by microenvironmental conditions.