Martinez-Lopez, MariaIborra, SalvadorConde-Garrosa, RuthSancho, David2017-12-012017-12-012015Eur J Immunol. 2015; 45(1):119-290014-2980http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12105/5526The role of different DC subsets in priming and maintenance of immunity against Leishmania major (L. major) infection is debated. The transcription factor basic leucine zipper transcription factor, ATF-like 3 (Batf3) is essential for the development of mouse CD103(+) DCs and some functions of CD8(+) DCs. We found that CD103(+) DCs were significantly reduced in the dermis of Batf3-deficient C57BL/6 mice. Batf3(-/-) mice developed exacerbated and unresolved cutaneous pathology following a low dose of intradermal L. major infection in the ear pinnae. Parasite load was increased 1000-fold locally and expanded systemically. Batf3 deficiency did not affect L. major antigen presentation to T cells, which was directly exerted by CD8(-) conventional DCs (cDCs) in the skin draining LN. However, CD4(+) T-cell differentiation in the LN and skin was skewed to nonprotective Treg- and Th2-cell subtypes. CD103(+) DCs are major IL-12 producers during L. major infection. Local Th1 immunity was severely hindered, correlating with impaired IL-12 production and reduction in CD103(+) DC numbers. Adoptive transfer of WT but not IL-12p40(-/-) Batf3-dependent DCs significantly improved anti-L. major response in infected Batf3(-/-) mice. Our results suggest that IL-12 production by Batf3-dependent CD103(+) DCs is crucial for maintenance of local Th1 immunity against L. major infection.engVoRhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/Adaptive immune responseBatf3Dendritic cellsIL-12Leishmania majorT-CELLSCROSS-PRESENTATIONLANGERHANS CELLSCUTTING EDGEIN-VIVORESPONSESSKINCD8(+)INTERLEUKIN-12MACROPHAGESAttribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 Internacional2531282445119-12910.1002/eji.2014446511521-4141European Journal of Immunologyopen access