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Updated: Aug 11, 2026
Detection of True IgE-expressing Mouse B Lineage Cells
Published on: December 1, 2014
Identification and characterization of the low-affinity receptor for immunoglobulin E (FcepsilonRII/CD23) on murine
Yuzuru Nagaoka1, Koichiro Nakamura, Nami Yasaka
1Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan. NAGAOKA-DER@h.u-tokyo.ac.jp
Insights
Murine cultured Langerhans cells express CD23, a receptor for immunoglobulin E (IgE). This finding contradicts previous studies and suggests CD23
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Dermatology
Background:
- CD23, a low-affinity IgE receptor, is expressed on various hemopoietic cells.
- Human epidermal Langerhans cells express CD23, but its presence on murine Langerhans cells remains unconfirmed.
- Previous studies have failed to identify CD23 on murine Langerhans cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression of CD23 on murine Langerhans cells.
- To reconcile conflicting previous findings regarding CD23 expression in murine Langerhans cells.
- To explore the functional implications of CD23 expression in murine Langerhans cells.
Main Methods:
- Isolation of highly enriched murine epidermal Langerhans cells (>95%) using the panning method.
- Analysis of CD23 expression via fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS) analysis and polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
- Investigation of IgE binding to cultured Langerhans cells and inhibition studies using anti-CD23 monoclonal antibody.
Main Results:
- CD23 was detected on cultured murine Langerhans cells but not on freshly isolated cells.
- PCR analysis confirmed CD23 DNA sequences in cultured Langerhans cells, identical to spleen leukocytes.
- Culturing with keratinocyte-derived cytokines downregulated CD23 expression; IgE binding was observed and partially inhibited by anti-CD23 antibody.
Conclusions:
- Murine cultured Langerhans cells express CD23, resolving previous discrepancies potentially due to cytokine influence.
- The expression of CD23 on murine Langerhans cells suggests a role in IgE-mediated immune responses.
- This study provides evidence for CD23's involvement in IgE binding and immune modulation in murine skin.
Abstract:
CD23 is a low-affinity receptor for immunoglobulin E and expressed on various hemopoietic cells. Although human epidermal cultured Langerhans cells express CD23, the study to identify CD23 on murine Langerhans cells has so far failed. In this study, using highly enriched (> 95%) Langerhans cells from murine epidermis obtained by the panning method, we investigated whether murine Langerhans cells express CD23. As the result of a series of experiments using fluorescence activated cell sorter analysis and the polymerase chain reaction method, it was revealed that CD23 is expressed on cultured Langerhans cells, but not on freshly isolated Langerhans cells. Comparison of the DNA sequence of polymerase chain reaction products of CD23 from cultured Langerhans cells with that from spleen leukocytes demonstrated that there were the same sequences between the two polymerase chain reaction products. The expression of CD23 on cultured Langerhans cells was downregulated when Langerhans cells were cultured with keratinocyte-derived cytokines: interleukin-1alpha, interleukin-18, macrophage colony-stimulating factor, or granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor. Moreover, it was shown that murine IgE bound to cultured Langerhans cells and this binding was partially inhibited when Langerhans cells were cultured with monoclonal antibody against CD23 (B3B4). Thus this study revealed murine cultured Langerhans cells do express CD23 and the discrepancy from previous reports may be due to the influence of cytokines derived from keratinocytes. Furthermore, the finding that murine cultured Langerhans cells bind IgE through CD23 suggests that CD23 on murine Langerhans cells may be involved in IgE-mediated immune responses.
