DEX-treated DCs triggered through CD40 induce a state of hyporesponsiveness in Th1 cells.

Hsp65-specific T cells precultured with CD40-triggered DCs or with immature DCs or with DEX-treated CD40-triggered DCs pulsed with the p3-13 peptide epitope were harvested after 5 days, allowed to rest in the presence of 5 U/mL IL2 for 4 days, and restimulated with p3-13-pulsed DCs or with unpulsed DCs (medium control). The proliferative response and IFN-γ production were measured on day 3. Similar results were obtained in 2 independent experiments.