Airway epithelial cells prime plasmacytoid dendritic cells to respond to pathogens via secretion of growth factors

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (PDCs) are thought to play a role in mucosal tolerance as well as in defense against respiratory viruses because of their propensity to secrete high levels of type I interferons (IFN). The functions of PDCs in the lung can be influenced by airway epithelial cells (AECs) because of their close proximity. We examined the effect of human primary AECs on PDC functions by performing RNA-sequencing of PDCs after co-culture with air liquid interphase differentiated AECs. Co-culture led to the upregulation of transcripts included those encoding cytosolic sensors of DNA, ZBP-1,IRF-3 and NFkB as well as genes involved in amplification of the type 1 IFN response, such as IFNAR1, JAK/STAT, ISG15. These data highlight possible mechanisms to enhance the production of type-I IFN in the airways, which is critical for host defense against respiratory infections We examined the effect of human airway epithelial cells on plasmacytoid dendritic cell (PDC) functions by performing RNA-sequencing of PDCs after co-culture with air liquid interface differentiated bronchial epithelial cells (PBEC) Each Sample was cultured with and without Epithelial cells in the culture.