Mycobacteria induce IFN-γ production in human dendritic cells via triggering of TLR2

IFN-gamma is of central importance for the induction of robust cell-mediated immunity and for the activation of APC. Recent studies using experimental murine systems have now suggested a fundamental role for APC-derived IFN-gamma during infection with intracellular pathogens. It is currently unknown whether human dendritic cells (DC) can respond to bacterial stimulation with production of IFN-gamma. To test this question, we used human monocyte-derived DC stimulated by Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guerin as a model system. We demonstrate production of IFN-gamma mRNA and protein on the single cell level. IFN-gamma in DC cultures was not simply produced by contaminating lymphocytes because production of DC-IFN-gamma could also be demonstrated in highly purified DC cultures containing virtually no T, B, and NK cells. TLR2 was identified as a key receptor involved in triggering production of DC-IFN-gamma. Interestingly, DC-IFN-gamma seems to participate in an autocrine DC activation loop, and production of DC-IFN-gamma could be enhanced by costimulation of DC with IL-12/IL-15/IL-18. In conclusion, we have demonstrated production of IFN-gamma by human DC on the single cell level, identified TLR2 as a pattern recognition receptor involved in this process, and elucidated some of the functional consequences of autocrine IFN-gamma production by human DC.