Non-equivalent antigen presenting capabilities of dendritic cells and macrophages in generating brain-infiltrating CD8+ T cell responses

The contribution of antigen-presenting cell (APC) types in generating CD8 + T cell responses in the central nervous system (CNS) is not fully defined, limiting the development of vaccines and understanding of immune-mediated neuropathology. Here, we generate a transgenic mouse that enables cell-specific deletion of the H-2Kb MHC class I molecule. By deleting H-2K b on dendritic cells and macrophages, we compare the effect of each APC in three distinct models of neuroinflammation: picornavirus infection, experimental cerebral malaria, and a syngeneic glioma. Dendritic cells and macrophages both activate CD8 + T cell responses in response to these CNS immunological challenges. However, the extent to which each of these APCs contributes to CD8 + T cell priming varies. These findings reveal distinct functions for dendritic cells and macrophages in generating CD8 + T cell responses to neurological disease. Dendritic cell antigen presentation is central to CD8 + T cell responses, but surprisingly little is known about the requirement for this functionality in the central nervous system. Here, the authors use three different models of neuroinflammation to show the importance of these cells in the CNS and in response to cerebral malaria, picornavirus infection and experimental glioma.