TAK1 deficiency in dendritic cells inhibits adaptive immunity in SRBC-immunized C57BL/6 mice

Dendritic cells (DCs) are important in the initiation of primary T-cell responses, while transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta)-activated kinase 1 (TAK1) is a critical regulator of DC survival and homeostasis. This study evaluated the T-cell dependent antibody response (TDAR) to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) on a DC-specific TAK1-deficient mice model. The results showed that TAK1 deficiency in DCs significantly suppressed the humoral and cellular immune response in mice. DC-specific TAK1 deletion impaired splenic T-cell population and conventional DCs, abolished the cytokine production of splenic T cells and down-regulated some functional gene expression in the spleen. Collectively, this study suggests that TAK1 plays an essential role in the development of the humoral immune response.