Abstract # 1701 Anti-CD40 prevents the corticosterone-induced loss of splenic dendritic cells in C57BL/6 mice

Abstract

Dendritic cells (DCs) are important immune cells linking the innate and adaptive immune response. DCs capture antigen to present to and activate naive T cells. Subsets of DCs vary based on protein expression. This research focused on total DCs (CD11c+), and the myeloid and cross-priming DC subsets. Corticosterone (CORT), a glucocorticoid hormone released in response to stress, greatly reduces DC numbers and alters DC function and subsequent T cell responses. The current study quantifies DC recovery after CORT exposure and demonstrates that the loss of DCs can be prevented. C57BL/6 mice were exposed to exogenous CORT in the drinking water for 24 h. The splenic DC populations were then quantified by flow cytometry. CORT exposure significantly decreased the numbers of all splenic DCs. Mice were then provided varying recovery times (3, 5, or 10 days) post CORT exposure. DCs quickly returned to normal levels, and even exceeded the percentages in control untreated mice. Injection of mice with anti-CD40 antibody triggers DC maturation. Thus, it was hypothesized that injection of anti-CD40 may prevent the CORT-induced loss of DCs. Mice received two injections of anti-CD40 antibody and were immediately supplied with CORT following the second injection. When provided anti-CD40 prior to CORT exposure, the loss of DCs was prevented. These studies contribute to the ongoing exploration of the mechanisms underlying the immunological effects of stress-induced glucocorticoids.