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Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (PDCs) are a unique DC subset that plays a critical role in regulating innate and adaptive immune responses. Recently, we have shown that human PDCs activated by CpG oligodeoxynucleotide (CpG ODN) can drive naive, allogeneic CD4+CD25− T cells to differentiate into CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs). However, the intracellular mechanism(s) underlying PDC-induced Treg generation is unknown. Here we show human PDCs express high levels of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), an intracellular enzyme that catabolizes tryptophan degradation. Triggering of Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) with CpG oligodeoxynucleotides activates PDCs to upregulate surface expression of B7 ligands and HLA-DR antigen, significantly increases the expression of IDO, and results in the generation of inducible Tregs from CD4+25− T cells with potent suppressor cell function. Blocking IDO activity with a pharmacologic inhibitor 1-methyl-D-tryptophan (1MT) significantly abrogates PDC-driven inducible Treg generation and suppressor cell function. Adding kynurenine (KYN), the immediate downstream metabolite of tryptophan, bypasses the 1MT effect, and restores PDC-driven Treg generation. Our results demonstrate that IDO pathway is essential for PDC-driven Treg generation from CD4+25− T cells, and implicates the generation of KYN-pathway metabolites as the critical mediator of this process.

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (PDCs) are key effectors in host innate immunity and orchestrate adaptive immune responses. CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) have potent immunostimulatory effects on PDCs through TLR9 recognition and signaling. Little is known about the effects of CpG ODN on human PDC-mediated T cell priming. Here we show that type B CpG ODN effectively promotes PDCs to prime allogeneic naive CD4+CD25− T cells to differentiate into CD4+CD25+ regulatory T (Treg) cells. The CD4+CD25+ T cells induced by CpG ODN-activated PDCs express forkhead transcription factor 3 and produce IL-10, TGF-β, IFN-γ, and IL-6, but low IL-2 and IL-4. These CD4+CD25+ T cells are hyporesponsive to secondary alloantigen stimulation and strongly inhibit proliferation of autologous or allogeneic naive CD4+ T cells in an Ag-nonspecific manner. CpG ODN-activated PDCs require direct contact with T cells to induce CD4+CD25+ Treg cells. Interestingly, IL-10 and TGF-β were undetectable in the supernatants of CpG ODN-stimulated PDC cultures. Both CpG-A and CpG-C ODN-activated PDCs similarly induced the generation of CD4+CD25+ Treg cells with strong immune suppressive function. This study demonstrates that TLR9 stimulation can promote PDC-mediated generation of CD4+CD25+ Treg cells and suggests PDCs may play an important role in the maintenance of immunological tolerance.