Dendritic cells and monocyte/macrophages that create the IL-6/APRIL-rich lymph node microenvironments where plasmablasts mature.

IL-6 and APRIL influence the growth, differentiation, and survival of normal and neoplastic Ab-forming cells (AFC). In this study, we identify two subsets of myeloid cells that associate with the AFC and are the main producers of these factors during a T-dependent Ab response to alum-precipitated protein in mouse lymph nodes. First CD11c(+)CD8alpha(-) dendritic cells located in the perivascular area of the T zone provide about half of the IL-6 mRNA produced in the node together with significant amounts of APRIL mRNA.

Expression of 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 permits regulation of glucocorticoid bioavailability by human dendritic cells.

Glucocorticoids (GCs) exert powerful anti-inflammatory effects that may relate in part to their ability to restrict the differentiation and function of dendritic cells (DCs). Although these inhibitory effects are dependent upon GCs binding to nuclear glucocorticoid receptors (GRs), fine-tuning of GR signaling is achieved by prereceptor interconversion of cortisol that binds GRs with high affinity and cortisone that does not. We show for the first time that human monocyte-derived DCs are able to generate cortisol as a consequence of up-regulated expression of the enzyme 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11beta-HSD1).

Endosialin (TEM1, CD248) is a marker of stromal fibroblasts and is not selectively expressed on tumour endothelium.

Fibroblasts are a diverse cell type and display clear topographic differentiation and positional memory. In a screen for fibroblast specific markers we have characterized four monoclonal antibodies to endosialin (TEM1/CD248). Previous studies have reported that endosialin is a tumour endothelium marker and is localized intracellularly.