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Delineation of a novel dendritic-like subset in human spleen
Sawang Petvises1, Dipti Talaulikar2,3,4, Helen C O'Neill1
1Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.
Insights
Researchers identified a novel dendritic-like cell (L-DC) subset in the human spleen, similar to a previously described murine subset. This finding expands our understanding of antigen-presenting cells in the human spleen.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Dendritic cells (DCs) are crucial antigen-presenting cells.
- A novel dendritic-like cell (L-DC) subset was previously identified in mice.
- The presence and characteristics of a human equivalent in the spleen remain largely uncharacterized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and characterize a potential human equivalent of the murine L-DC subset in the human spleen.
- To compare human splenic DC and monocyte subsets with those found in human blood.
- To investigate the presence of L-DC progenitors within the human spleen.
Main Methods:
- Flow cytometry was used to analyze dendritic cells and monocyte subpopulations in the human spleen.
- Human splenocytes were co-cultured with the murine stromal line 5G3 to assess hematopoiesis and DC production.
- Phenotypic analysis included markers such as hCD11c, hCD11b, HLA-DR, hCD86, hCD1c, hCD123, hCD16, hCD141, hCD80.
Main Results:
- A human L-DC subset was identified in the spleen with the phenotype hCD11c(+)hCD11b(+)HLA-DR(-)hCD86(+).
- Phenotypes of splenic DC and monocyte subsets were similar to those in human blood.
- Co-culture of human splenocytes with murine 5G3 stromal cells induced hematopoiesis, producing cells resembling L-DCs (hCD11c(+)HLA-DR(-)) and other DCs (hCD11c(+)HLA-DR(+)).
- Both induced subsets expressed hCD80 and hCD86, indicating antigen-presenting capacity, and were highly endocytic.
Conclusions:
- A human splenic equivalent of murine L-DCs was characterized, enhancing knowledge of human antigen-presenting cells.
- Murine splenic stroma (5G3 cell line) can support human hematopoiesis and dendritic cell production.
- The 5G3 cell line likely secretes factors that promote hematopoiesis in both human and murine progenitors.
Abstract:
Dendritic cells (DCs) and monocyte subpopulations present in the human spleen were analyzed by flow cytometry in an attempt to identify the presence of a novel dendritic-like cell subset described previously in mice and named L-DCs. In this study, an equivalent of this novel murine subset was characterized in the human spleen, thus increasing our knowledge of the antigen-presenting cell types present in the human spleen. Human L-DCs were identified as a hCD11c(+)hCD11b(+)HLA-DR(-)hCD86(+) subset in the spleen, along with the previously described subsets of hCD1c(+) DCs, hCD123(+) plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs), hCD16(+) DCs and hCD141(+) DCs. Three subsets of monocytes were also characterized. DC and monocyte subsets in human spleen had phenotypes similar to those of subsets in human blood. In line with murine studies, the presence of L-DC progenitors within the spleen was also investigated. When human splenocytes depleted of T and B cells were cocultured with the murine stromal line 5G3, hematopoiesis ensued and hCD11c(+)HLA-DR(+) and hCD11c(+)HLA-DR(-) cells were produced. The latter resemble L-DCs, which are also produced in murine spleen cocultures. Both subsets expressed hCD80 and hCD86, which identifies them as antigen-presenting cells, particularly DCs, and were highly endocytic. It is noteworthy that murine splenic stroma can serve as a support matrix for human hematopoiesis and DC production. These results support the hypothesis that 5G3 must express both cell-associated and soluble factors that can signal hematopoiesis in human and murine progenitors.
