Sphingosine 1-Phosphate Receptor 3–Deficient Dendritic Cells Modulate Splenic Responses to Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury

The plasticity of dendritic cells (DCs) permits phenotypic modulation ex vivo by gene expression or pharmacologic agents, and these modified DCs can exert therapeutic immunosuppressive effects in vivo through direct interactions with T cells, either inducing T regulatory cells (T REG s) or causing anergy. Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) is a sphingolipid and the natural ligand for five G protein–coupled receptors (S1P1, S1P2, S1P3, S1P4, and S1P5), and S1PR agonists reduce kidney ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) in mice. S1pr3 −/− mice are protected from kidney IRI, because DCs do not mature. We tested the therapeutic advantage of S1pr3 −/− bone marrow–derived dendritic cell (BMDC) transfers in kidney IRI. IRI produced a rise in plasma creatinine (PCr) levels in mice receiving no cells (NCs) and mice pretreated with wild-type (WT) BMDCs. However, S1pr3 −/− BMDC–pretreated mice were protected from kidney IRI. S1pr3 −/− BMDC–pretreated mice had significantly higher numbers of splenic T REG s compared with NC and WT BMDC–pretreated mice. S1pr3 −/− BMDCs did not attenuate IRI in splenectomized, Rag-1 −/− , or CD11c + DC–depleted mice. Additionally, S1pr3 −/− BMDC–dependent protection required CD169 + marginal zone macrophages and the macrophage–derived chemokine CCL22 to increase splenic CD4 + Foxp3 + T REG s. Pretreatment with S1pr3 −/− BMDCs also induced T REG -dependent protection against IRI in an allogeneic mouse model. In summary, adoptively transferred S1pr3 −/− BMDCs prevent kidney IRI through interactions within the spleen and expansion of splenic CD4 + Foxp3 + T REG s. We conclude that genetically induced deficiency of S1pr3 in allogenic BMDCs could serve as a therapeutic approach to prevent IRI-induced AKI.