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Updated: Jul 19, 2026
Generation of Human Monocyte-derived Dendritic Cells from Whole Blood
Published on: December 24, 2016
Functional impairment of monocyte-derived dendritic cells in patients with severe chronic kidney disease
Martijn Anton Verkade1, Corné Johan van Druningen, Leonard Maria Bernardus Vaessen
1Erasmus Medical Center, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Bd336, Dr. Molewater plein 40, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Insights
Dendritic cell terminal differentiation is impaired in patients with severe chronic kidney disease (CKD), impacting immune responses. This dysfunction occurs regardless of haemodialysis treatment.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Nephrology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Dendritic cells (DCs) are crucial antigen-presenting cells initiating immune responses.
- Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), with or without chronic intermittent haemodialysis (CIHD), exhibit impaired immunity.
- DC dysfunction is a potential cause of this immune deficit in CKD patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the function of monocyte-derived dendritic cells (moDC) in patients with severe CKD (GFR <30 ml/min) and those on CIHD.
- To compare moDC function in CKD patients with age- and sex-matched healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- In vitro analysis of monocyte-derived dendritic cells (moDC) from CKD patients and healthy controls.
- Assessment of cell surface markers and macropinocytosis to evaluate moDC terminal differentiation.
- Evaluation of T-cell stimulation, proliferation, and differentiation (Th1/Th2) by moDC.
Main Results:
- Mature moDC from CKD patients showed incomplete terminal differentiation compared to controls, evidenced by cell surface markers and macropinocytosis.
- moDC from CKD patients induced less autologous T-cell proliferation against recall antigens.
- No significant differences were observed in allogeneic T-cell stimulation or naive T-cell differentiation into Th1/Th2 cells.
Conclusions:
- Severe CKD impairs the terminal differentiation of monocyte-derived dendritic cells (moDC).
- This moDC differentiation defect is consistent across different maturation stimuli.
- The observed impairment is independent of chronic intermittent haemodialysis treatment.
Background:
Dendritic cells (DCs) are antigen-presenting cells that are pivotal for the initiation of the primary immune response. Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) with or without chronic intermittent haemodialysis (CIHD) show an impaired immune response. Dysfunction of DCs may underlie this phenomenon.
Methods:
In this study, several different functions of monocyte-derived DCs (moDC) of patients with CKD class IV-V (glomerular filtration rate <30 ml/min) and patients on CIHD were studied in vitro and compared with age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers.
Results:
We demonstrate that, independent of the maturation stimulus used, mature moDC from both groups of patients did not acquire the same level of terminal differentiation as moDC from controls, as shown by analysis of cell surface markers and the relative high macropinocytosis activity of moDC. The stimulation of allogeneic T-cells by immature moDC and mature moDC did not differ between patients and controls. However, in the presence of immature moDC or antigen-loaded maturated moDC from patients, less proliferation of autologous T-cells was observed in response to recall antigens. There was no difference between moDC from controls and patients in their ability to activate naive T-cells and to differentiate them into Th1 and Th2 cells.
Conclusions:
These results show that the terminal differentiation of moDC in patients with severe CKD is impaired. This impairment is not restricted to one maturation stimulus and is independent of treatment with haemodialysis.
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