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Murine thymic plasmacytoid dendritic cells
Tomoyuki Okada1, Zhe-Xiong Lian, Mitsuru Naiki
1Division of Rheumatology/Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of California at Davis, Davis 95616, USA.
European Journal of Immunology
|April 3, 2003
Summary
Researchers identified a new subset of murine thymic cells, plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs). These pDCs are similar to human pDCs and produce high amounts of interferon-alpha in response to specific stimuli.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Murine thymus contains heterogeneous cell subsets.
- Distinct dendritic cell (DC) populations exist within the thymus.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize a novel thymic cell subset expressing CD11c and B220.
- To investigate the properties and function of this subset, termed thymic plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs).
Main Methods:
- Flow cytometry to identify and characterize cell subsets.
- In vitro culture with CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) 2216.
- Analysis of Toll-like receptor (TLR) mRNA expression.
- Measurement of cytokine production (IFN-alpha, IL-12).
Main Results:
- A CD11c(+)B220(+) subset with plasmacytoid morphology was identified.
- These thymic pDCs express high TLR7 and TLR9 mRNA and low TLR2, TLR3, TLR4 mRNA.
- Thymic pDCs produce high amounts of IFN-alpha in response to CpG ODN 2216 (TLR9 ligand).
- Compared to other thymic DCs, pDCs show low T cell allo-proliferation activity and high sensitivity to apoptosis.
Conclusions:
- Thymic pDCs are functionally and phenotypically similar to human pDCs and IFN-producing cells.
- Their TLR and cytokine profiles support the designation of pDC.
- Cell lineage significantly influences responses to TLR9 ligands.