The plasmacytoid dendritic cells evoke Salmonella-specific CTL effector response.

Introduction: The immunological role of plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC) in bacterial infections such as Salmonella has been poorly documented. Therefore, we analyzed the effector function of these cells by presenting cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) with Salmonella Typhimurium antigens. Objective: To analyze the Salmonella-specific CTL response evoked by pDCs. Materials and methods: We used plasmacytoid dendritic cells stained with carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester (CFSE) and pulsed with OmpC73, Salmonella K-b-restricted epitopes or S. Typhimurium as targets for cytotoxicity assays. Results: Specific lysis was shown to be statistically significant in pDC + OmpC73 for all effector:target ratios (p <= 0.05). For pDC + S. Typhimurium, statistical significance was only observed at a 1:100 ratio (p <= 0.05) using OmpC73. Conclusion: Plasmacytoid dendritic cells evoke CTL response during S. Typhimurium infection.