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Updated: Jun 9, 2026
Isolation and Characterization of Dendritic Cells and Macrophages from the Mouse Intestine
Published on: May 21, 2012
Human serous cavity macrophages and dendritic cells possess counterparts in the mouse with a distinct distribution
Jichang Han1, Alexandre Gallerand1, Emma C Erlich1
1Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
Abstract:
In mouse peritoneal and other serous cavities, the transcription factor GATA6 drives the identity of the major cavity resident population of macrophages, with a smaller subset of cavity-resident macrophages dependent on the transcription factor IRF4. Here we showed that GATA6+ macrophages in the human peritoneum were rare, regardless of age. Instead, more human peritoneal macrophages aligned with mouse CD206+ LYVE1+ cavity macrophages that represent a differentiation stage just preceding expression of GATA6. A low abundance of CD206+ macrophages was retained in C57BL/6J mice fed a high-fat diet and in wild-captured mice, suggesting that differences between serous cavity-resident macrophages in humans and mice were not environmental. IRF4-dependent mouse serous cavity macrophages aligned closely with human CD1c+CD14+CD64+ peritoneal cells, which, in turn, resembled human peritoneal CD1c+CD14-CD64- cDC2. Thus, major populations of serous cavity-resident mononuclear phagocytes in humans and mice shared common features, but the proportions of different macrophage differentiation stages greatly differ between the two species, and dendritic cell (DC2)-like cells were especially prominent in humans.
Insights
Human and mouse peritoneal macrophages share common features, but their proportions differ significantly. Human peritoneal cavities are enriched in dendritic cell (DC2)-like cells, unlike mouse cavities.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Comparative Biology
Background:
- Transcription factors GATA6 and IRF4 define major macrophage populations in mouse serous cavities.
- GATA6 drives the primary cavity-resident macrophage population, while IRF4 supports a smaller subset.
- Understanding species-specific immune cell populations is crucial for comparative immunology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the identity and differentiation stages of human peritoneal macrophages.
- To compare human peritoneal macrophages with their mouse counterparts.
- To determine if environmental factors contribute to observed differences in serous cavity macrophages.
Main Methods:
- Flow cytometry analysis of human and mouse peritoneal cells.
- Immunophenotyping to identify macrophage and dendritic cell populations.
- Comparison of cell surface markers (CD206, LYVE1, CD1c, CD14, CD64) and transcription factor dependence (GATA6, IRF4).
Main Results:
- Human peritoneal macrophages rarely expressed GATA6, unlike in mice.
- Human peritoneal macrophages showed greater similarity to a precursor stage of mouse cavity macrophages (CD206+ LYVE1+).
- IRF4-dependent mouse macrophages resembled human CD1c+CD14+CD64+ peritoneal cells, which are similar to human cDC2 cells.
- Low abundance of CD206+ macrophages in mice on high-fat diets or wild-captured mice suggests differences are not environmental.
- Human peritoneal cavities exhibit a prominent population of dendritic cell (DC2)-like cells.
Conclusions:
- While major mononuclear phagocyte populations are conserved, the proportions of macrophage differentiation stages differ substantially between humans and mice.
- Human peritoneal cavities are characterized by a notable presence of dendritic cell (DC2)-like cells, distinct from the dominant macrophage populations in mice.
- These findings highlight significant species-specific differences in serous cavity immune cell composition.
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