Energy restriction impairs dendritic cell development in C57Bl/6 mice (382.2)

Abstract

Dendritic cells (DC) are antigen presenting cells and sensitive to nutritional modulation. Energy restriction (ER) is a nutritional intervention shown to extend lifespan in many experimental organisms, but recent data in non‐human primates are contradictory. Immunological outcomes of ER are inconsistent, with several reports demonstrating amelioration of autoimmune disease in ER mice, yet increased susceptibility to some primary infections, such as influenza. In the current study, we hypothesized bone marrow DC development would be increased in ER mice due to glucocorticoid‐associated increased myelopoiesis. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of ER on bone marrow DC progenitor numbers. Multicolor flow cytometry was used to characterize bone marrow DC progenitors. We observed increased myeloid progenitors and monocytes, while common DC progenitors and precursor DC were decreased in bone marrow of ER mice. Injecting recombinant mouse Flt3L was utilized to induce DC development in ER and ad libitum (AL) fed mice. We observed differential effects of rmFlt3L injections on DC subsets in ER mice, relative to that observed in AL mice. The altered developmental pathway of DC subsets may be responsible for contradictory immunological outcomes in ER populations and provide potential targets for improving vaccination, autoimmune conditions, and infectious disease.Grant Funding Source: Supported by NIA grant to EMG RO1AG034949