Differential Protein Pathways in 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D-3 and Dexamethasone Modulated Tolerogenic Human Dendritic Cells

Tolerogenic dendritic cells (DC) that are maturation-resistant and locked in a semimature state are promising tools in clinical applications for tolerance induction. Different immunomodulatory agents have been shown to induce a tolerogenic DC phenotype, such as the biologically active form of vitamin D (1,25(OH)2D3), glucocorticoids, and a synergistic combination of both. In this study, we aimed to characterize the protein profile, function and phenotype of DCs obtained in vitro in the presence of 1,25(OH)2D3, dexamethasone (DEX), and a combination of both compounds (combi). Human CD14+ monocytes were differentiated toward mature DCs, in the presence or absence of 1,25(OH)2D3 and/or DEX. Cells were prefractionated into cytoplasmic and microsomal fractions and protein samples were separated in two different pH ranges (pH 3–7NL and 6–9), analyzed by 2D-DIGE and differentially expressed spots (p < 0.05) were identified after MALDI-TOF/TOF analysis. In parallel, morphological and phenotypical analyses were pe...