CD8α–11b+ dendritic cells but not CD8α+ dendritic cells mediate cross-tolerance toward intestinal antigens

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Abstract
Cross-presentation is a critical process by which antigen is displayed to CD8 T cells to induce tolerance. It is believed that CD8α+ dendritic cells (DCs) are responsible for cross-presentation, suggesting that the CD8α+ DC population is capable of inducing both cross-priming and cross-tolerance to antigen. We found that cross-tolerance against intestinal soluble antigen was abrogated in C57BL/6 mice lacking mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) and Peyer patches (PPs), whereas mice lacking PPs alone were capable of developing CD8 T-cell tolerance. CD8α–CD11b+ DCs but not CD8α+ DCs in the MLNs present intestinal antigens to relevant CD8 T cells, while CD8α+ DCs but not CD8α–CD11b+ DCs in the spleen exclusively cross-present intravenous soluble antigen. Thus, CD8α–CD11b+ DCs in the MLNs play a critical role for induction of cross-tolerance to dietary proteins.