Human monocyte-derived dendritic cells express TLR9 and react directly to the CpG-A oligonucleotide D19.

Oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) containing unmethylated CpG exhibit their immunostimulatory activities by binding to TLR. Here, we show that human monocyte-derived dendritic cells (moDC) contain TLR9 protein, surprisingly, in amounts comparable with plasmacytoid DC (pDC). Immature moDC but not mature moDC nor monocytes captured CpG-ODNs. moDC stimulation with the CpG-A ODN D19 up-regulated CD83, CD86, and HLA-DR. Without CD40 ligand costimulation, full maturation was not achieved. D19-stimulated moDC primed allogeneic CD4(+)-T cells for proliferation and differentiation into IFN-gamma-secreting Th1 cells. Neither IL-12 nor IL-6 or TNF-alpha was involved. Microarray analysis pointed to a participation of Type I IFNs. In fact, D19-stimulated moDC secreted considerable amounts of IFN-alpha. This indicates that moDC themselves sense viral and bacterial DNA and do not need help from pDC.