TOLEROGENIC PLASMACYTOID DENDRITIC CELLS CO-EXPRESSING CD8-ALPHA AND CD8-BETA AND METHODS OF INDUCING THE DIFFERENTIATION OF REGULATORY T CELLS USING SAME

摘要

This invention discloses an unexpected discovery that plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) may be segregated into immunogenic or tolerogenic species based on novel biomarkers discovered herein. Exemplary biomarkers include CD8α⁺β⁺, CD8α⁺β^-, CD8α^-β^- Clq, and IL- 9R. For example, pDCs with CD8α⁺β⁺, CD8α⁺β^- are tolerogenic and CD8α^-β^- is immunogenic. Also disclosed are isolated pDCs, compositions comprising the pDCs, methods for isolating the pDCs, methods for treating immune-hyper-reactivity, such as airway hyper-reactivity, food allergy, asthma, and autoimmune disorders, by using compositions containing tolerogenic antigen presenting cells, preferably pDCs disclosed herein. Also disclosed are methods for identifying tolerogenic antigen presenting cells by using one or more novel biomarkers disclosed herein, including RALDH expression, CD8α, GD8β, Clqa, Clqc, and IL-9R. Also disclosed are methods for inducing Treg cells by using the pDCs disclosed herein.