The role of DC-STAMP in maintenance of immune tolerance through regulation of dendritic cell function. 
Regulation of dendritic cell (DC) function is critical for maintaining self-tolerance and preventing autoimmunity.  The dendritic cell-specific transmembrane protein (DC-STAMP) plays a key role in cell-cell fusion of osteoclasts and foreign body giant cells, but though originally identified in DCs, its specific roles there remain undefined.  Here, we report that aged DC-STAMP-deficient mice display several systemic autoimmune symptoms such as spontaneous lymphoproliferation, splenomegaly associated with infiltration of T cells in several organs and increased serum anti-double-stranded DNA antibody production.  Although a lack of DC-STAMP did not inhibit DC differentiation or proliferation, antigen presentation activity of DC-STAMP-deficient DCs was significantly up-regulated in both class I and II pathways through increased phagocytotic activity compared with wild-type DCs, an activity likely leading to autoimmunity.  Our results indicate that DC-STAMP is required for proper regulation of DC activity and maintenance of immune self-tolerance.