Influence of ERK activation on decreased chernotaxis of mature human cord blood monocyte-derived dendritic cells to CCL19 and CXCL12

Dendritic cells (DCs) are important regulators in graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). To gain insight into cord blood (CB) DC immunology, we compared chemotactic responses of mature monocyte-derived DCs and maturation agent lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced signaling between CB and adult blood (AB). Mature CB DCs expressed reduced CCR7, but increased CXCR4. This was associated with reduced migratory efficiency toward both CCR7 ligand CCL19 and CXCR4 ligand CXCL12. LPS induced higher extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation in CB than in AB DCs. Specific inhibition of ERK during CB DC maturation enhanced LPS-induced upregulation of CCR7 and CXCR4 on CB DCs and their chemotaxis toward CCL19 and CXCL12, to a level similar to that of mature AB DCs. Overall, monocyte-derived CB DCs responded to LPS with stronger and sustained ERK activation, which negatively correlated with LPS-induced up-regulation of CCR7 and CXCR4 on CB DCs and their migratory responses. These findings may have potential relevance to better understanding DC function in CB transplantation.