Analysis of the mechanisms of dendritic cell-mediated T cell activation

Experiments were designed to evaluate the mechanisms(s) of dendritic cells (CD) function in two models of T cell activation, oxidative mitogenesis and antigen-induced T cell proliferation. Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) was used to investigate the AC function of DC since previous use of UVR to study other AC populations has permitted delineation of discrete steps involved in AC function. DC viability and function were exquisitely sensitive to UVR when compared to other AC populations and decreased DC function correlated with decreased DC viability. Soluble interleukin (IL) 1 did not play an important role in DC function in that IL 1 failed to reconstitute UVR-abrogated DC function and antibodies to IL 1 did not diminish the capacity of DC to activate T cells