A Simple and Efficient Method for Testing Immunomodulatory Agents for Generation of Tolerogenic Dendritic Cells from Human CD14+ Monocytes.

Tolerogenic dendritic cells (tolDCs) are a subset of dendritic cells (DCs) that are known to influence naïve T cells toward a regulatory T cell (Treg) phenotype. TolDCs are currently under investigation as therapies for autoimmunity and transplantation, both as a cell therapy and method to induce tolDCs from endogenous DCs. To date, however, the number of known agents to induce tolDCs from naïve DCs is relatively small and their potency to generate Tregs in vivo has been inconsistent, particularly therapies that induce tolDCs from endogenous DCs. This provides an opportunity to explore novel compounds to generate tolerance. Here we describe a method to test novel immunomodulatory compounds on monocyte-derived DCs (moDCs) in vitro and validate their functionality to generate autologous Tregs. First, we obtain PBMCs and isolate CD14⁺ monocytes and CD3⁺ T cells using commercially available magnetic separation kits. Next, we differentiate monocytes into moDCs, treat them with an established immunomodulator, such as rapamycin, dexamethasone, IL-10, or vitamin D3, for 24 h and test their change in tolerogenic markers as a validation of the protocol. Finally, we co-culture the induced tolDCs with autologous T cells in the presence of anti-CD3/CD28 stimulation and observe changes in Treg populations and T cell proliferation. We envision this protocol being used to evaluate the efficacy of novel immunomodulatory agents to reprogram already differentiated DCs towards tolDC.