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Updated: Jun 28, 2026
Culture of myeloid dendritic cells from bone marrow precursors
Published on: July 25, 2008
CX3CR1+ c-kit+ bone marrow cells give rise to CD103+ and CD103- dendritic cells with distinct functional properties
Maria-Luisa del Rio1, Jose-Ignacio Rodriguez-Barbosa, Jasmin Bölter
1Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
Insights
Bone marrow progenitor cells, specifically lineage-negative CX3CR1-positive c-kit-positive (GFP+c-kit+) cells, can differentiate into CD103-positive dendritic cells (DCs). These findings reveal a key source for replenishing CD103+ DCs in various organs.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Dendritic cells (DCs) are a heterogeneous immune cell population crucial for immune responses.
- CD103-positive (CD103+) DCs are a key subset involved in inducing tissue-specific homing of T cells, particularly at mucosal sites.
- The progenitors responsible for replenishing the CD103+ DC subset remain largely unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and characterize bone marrow progenitors capable of differentiating into CD103+ DCs.
- To investigate the distinct functional properties of CD103-negative (CD103-) and CD103+ DCs derived from identified progenitors.
- To determine the contribution of these progenitors to CD103+ DC populations in vivo, especially during allergic inflammation.
Main Methods:
- Isolation and in vitro/in vivo differentiation of lineage-negative CX3CR1-positive c-kit-positive (GFP+c-kit+) bone marrow cells.
- Phenotypic analysis using flow cytometry to identify CD11c and CD103 expression.
- Gene expression profiling and functional assays (phagocytosis, cytokine secretion, T cell proliferation).
- Adoptive transfer experiments in irradiated mice with allergic lung inflammation.
Main Results:
- GFP+c-kit+ bone marrow cells differentiated into both CD11c+CD103- and CD11c+CD103+ DCs in vitro and in vivo.
- Generated CD103- DCs showed higher phagocytosis and secreted pro-inflammatory cytokines upon LPS stimulation.
- Generated CD103+ DCs expressed high levels of costimulatory molecules and induced T cell proliferation.
- Donor-derived CD103+ DCs were detected in the lungs and draining lymph nodes of recipient mice following adoptive transfer.
Conclusions:
- Lineage-negative CX3CR1-positive c-kit-positive (GFP+c-kit+) bone marrow cells are progenitors for CD103+ DCs.
- Distinct functional properties exist between CD103- and CD103+ DCs derived from these progenitors.
- These progenitors contribute to the replenishment of CD103+ DCs in both lymphoid and non-lymphoid organs, including during inflammatory conditions.
Abstract:
Dendritic cells (DC) represent a rather heterogeneous cell population with regard to morphology, phenotype, and function and, like most cells of the immune system, are subjected to a continuous renewal process. CD103(+) (integrin alpha(E)) DC have been identified as a major mucosal DC subset involved in the induction of tissue-specific homing molecules on T cells, but little is known about progenitors able to replenish this DC subset. Herein we report that lineage (lin)(-)CX(3)CR1(+)c-kit(+) (GFP(+)c-kit(+)) bone marrow cells can differentiate to either CD11c(+)CD103(-) or CD11c(+)CD103(+) DC in vitro and in vivo. Gene expression as well as functional assays reveal distinct phenotypical and functional properties of both subsets generated in vitro. CD103(-) DC exhibit enhanced phagocytosis and respond to LPS stimulation by secreting proinflammatory cytokines, whereas CD103(+) DC express high levels of costimulatory molecules and efficiently induce allogeneic T cell proliferation. Following adoptive transfer of GFP(+)c-kit(+) bone marrow cells to irradiated recipients undergoing allergic lung inflammation, we identified donor-derived CD103(+) DC in lung and the lung-draining bronchial lymph node. Collectively, these data indicate that GFP(+)c-kit(+) cells contribute to the replenishment of CD103(+) DC in lymphoid and nonlymphoid organs.
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