Mechanisms of IL-12 synthesis by human dendritic cells treated with the chemical sensitizer NiSO4.

Allergic contact dermatitis, caused by metallic ions, is a T cell-mediated inflammatory skin disease. IL-12 is a 70-kDa heterodimeric protein composed of IL-12p40 and IL-12p35, playing a major role in the generation of allergen-specific T cell responses. Dendritic cells (DCs) are APCs involved in the induction of primary immune responses, as they possess the ability to stimulate naive T cells. In this study, we address the question whether the sensitizer nickel sulfate (NiSO(4)) itself or in synergy with other signals can induce the secretion of IL-12p70 in human monocyte-derived DCs (Mo-DCs). We found that IL-12p40 was produced by Mo-DC in response to NiSO(4) stimulation. Addition of IFN-gamma concomitantly to NiSO(4) leads to IL-12p70 synthesis. NiSO(4) treatment leads to the activation of MAPK, NF-kappaB pathways, and IFN regulatory factor 1 (IRF-1). We investigated the role of these signaling pathways in IL-12 production using known pharmacological inhibitors of MAPK and NF-kappaB pathways and RNA interference-mediated silencing of IRF-1. Our results showed that p38 MAPK, NF-kappaB, and IRF-1 were involved in IL-12p40 production induced by NiSO(4). Moreover, IRF-1 silencing nearly totally abrogated IL-12p40 and IL-12p70 production provoked by NiSO(4) and IFN-gamma. In response to NiSO(4), we observed that STAT-1 was phosphorylated on both serine and tyrosine residues and participated to NiSO(4)-induced IRF-1 activation. N-acetylcysteine abolished STAT-1 phosphorylation, suggesting that STAT-1 activation may be dependent on NiSO(4)-induced alteration of the redox status of the cell. These results indicate that p38 MAPK, NF-kappaB, and IRF-1 are activated by NiSO(4) in Mo-DC and cooperate for IL-12 production.