pDCの活性化機構:Reizis博士らは「pDCがパターン認識受容体(TLRなど)で活性化される点はDCに近い」と主張していますが、私たちは、B細胞や他の固有リンパ球(ILC3など)もTLRで活性化される例を挙げ、この特徴はリンパ球系への分類を否定するものではありません。重要なのは、pDCの「迅速かつ大量の型 I インターフェロン産生能」であり、この機能的特徴こそが自然リンパ球(ILC)に合致するものです。
【Points】
This is a letter (Correspondence) in which we presented a rebuttal and further support in response to the counterarguments raised by Dr. Reizis et al. regarding our claims, which were previously published in Nat Rev Immunol (2023 Jan 23(1):1-2).
Function of pDC: While Dr. Reizis et al. argued that “pDCs can acquire antigen-presenting capacity through transcriptional reprogramming,” we stated that there is no evidence of “true antigen presentation (the antigen uptake, processing, and presentation to naive self-T cells).” We also pointed out the possibility of contamination by “pDC-like cells (such as AS-DCs and pre-DCs).”
Phylogeny of pDCs: While Dr. Reizis and colleagues emphasized the “importance of the myeloid lineage in pDCs,” we presented multiple studies showing that most pDCs differentiate from common lymphoid progenitor (CLP) and argued for a substantial contribution from CLPs.
Mechanism of pDC Activation: While Dr. Reizis et al. argued that “pDCs are similar to cDCs in that they are activated by pattern recognition receptors (such as TLRs),” we cited examples of B cells and other innate lymphoid cells (such as ILC3) that are also activated by TLRs, and this characteristic does not preclude their classification within the lymphoid lineage. What is important is the pDC’s “ability to rapidly produce large amounts of type I interferon,” and this functional characteristic aligns with innate lymphoid cells (ILCs).