  Dendritic cells (DCs) display the unique ability to activate naive T cells
and to initiate primary T cell responses revealed in DC-T cell alloreactions.
DCs frequently operate under stress conditions. Oxidative stress enhances the
production of inflammatory cytokines by DCs. We performed a proteomic analysis
to see which major changes occur, at the protein expression level, during DC
differentiation and maturation. Comparative two-dimensional gel analysis of the
monocyte, immature DC, and mature DC stages was performed. Manganese superoxide
dismutase (Mn-SOD) reached 0.7% of the gel-displayed proteins at the mature DC
stage. This important amount of Mn-SOD is a primary antioxidant defense system
against superoxide radicals, but its product, H(2)O(2), is also deleterious for
cells. Peroxiredoxin (Prx) enzymes play an important role in eliminating such
peroxide. Prx1 expression level continuously increased during DC
differentiation and maturation, whereas Prx6 continuously decreased, and Prx2
peaked at the immature DC stage. As a consequence, DCs were more resistant than
monocytes to apoptosis induced by high amounts of oxidized low density
lipoproteins containing toxic organic peroxides and hydrogen peroxide.
Furthermore DC-stimulated T cells produced high levels of receptor activator of
nuclear factor kappaB ligand, a chemotactic and survival factor for monocytes
and DCs. This study provides insights into the original ability of DCs to
express very high levels of antioxidant enzymes such as Mn-SOD and Prx1, to
detoxify oxidized low density lipoproteins, and to induce high levels of
receptor activator of nuclear factor kappaB ligand by the T cells they activate
and further emphasizes the role that DCs might play in atherosclerosis, a
pathology recognized as a chronic inflammatory disorder.
