TGF β1 inhibits the maturation of dendritic cells and down-regulates TLR4 expression

AIM: To investigate the effects of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) on murine-derived dendritic cells (DC). METHODS: Murine bone marrow cells were cultured with GM-CSF and TGF-β1 to develop TGF β-DC. Then they were stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Their phenotypes were assessed by flow cytometry (FCM). The allogeneic stimulating capacity of DC was measured by mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) using BrdU ELISA method. IL-12 p70 protein was detected by ELISA and the expressions of Toll like receptor 4 (TLR4) on DCs were measured by semi-quantitative RT-PCR and FCM. RESULTS: Compared to immature DC (imDC) cultured with GM-CSF alone, the expressions of CD80, CD86, I-Ab and CD40 in TGF β-DC were lower. The TGF β-DC was resistant to maturation by LPS. Maturation resistance was evident from a failure to up-regulate CMs, to stimulate larger T cell proliferation and to increase secretion of IL-12 p70. Down-regulation of TLR4 expression on TGF β-DC was also found. CONCLUSION: TGF-β1 inhibits the expression of co-stimulatory molecules on DC. It is resistant to maturation stimulus (LPS) and might be linked with TLR4 down-regulation.