Distribution of bursal secretory dendritic cells in the chicken

Abstract

Background The bursa of Fabricius provided the microenvironment for B‐cell differentiation. Continuous contact between lymphoid cells and antigen in the bursa further suggested that antigenic material has an important influence on the maintenance and development of B cells in the bursa. In addition, a dendritic cell, the bursal secretory dendritic cell (BSDC), has been identified in the medulla. The hypothesis that, in the bursal follicles, the contact between the lymphoid cells and the antigen may be mediated by dendritic cells prompted us to identify a bursal dendritic cell that becomes activated after contact with the antigen. Methods A polyclonal antiserum to S‐100 protein was used to identify bursal dendritic cells because S‐100 protein, a calcium‐binding protein, has been shown to be a marker for the identification of chicken dendritic cells following recent contact with antigen. Results At every age investigated, S‐100‐positive cells showed a location and shape identical to those described for BSDCs. Positive cells were found within and under the follicle‐associated epithelial cells (FAE), indicating that these cells were strategically placed where they would encounter the antigen. In addition, positive cells were found arranged along the corticomedullary junction, which is a regenerative zone for the BSDC. After 10 weeks of age, the number of positive cells dramatically decreased, suggesting that the endocytic activity of the FAE may become impaired as the bursa regresses. Conclusions The polyclonal antiserum to S‐100 protein identified the BSDCs in the bursal follicles. Positive cells may be BSDCs that have undergone a functional activation after contact with the antigen. These cells may have a role as antigen‐presenting cells in the bursal follicles. Hence, these cells may be involved in the events that lead to B‐cell differentiation. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

Development of the follicle-associated epithelium and the secretory dendritic cell in the bursa of fabricius of the guinea fowl (Numida meleagris) studied by novel monoclonal antibodies

“…These findings may support the idea that the increase in the number of BSDC takes place by differentiation of the cells locating in the CM arcades. In 1‐week‐old birds the BSDCs are lined up along the CM border (Oláh and Glick, 1992a; Gallego et al, 1996) and the center of the follicle is populated later. This observation suggests that the arches of the CM border enclose the precursors of BSDC (Oláh and Glick, 1981).…”

Generation and characterization of chicken bone marrow‐derived dendritic cells

“…For the last two decades, studies have been carried out to demonstrate the existence of chicken dendritic cells (DCs) in different tissues. [1][2][3][4][5][6] A recent report 7 described cells in tissue sections that stained with an antichicken CD83 monoclonal antibody as having unique attributes akin to both DCs and follicular DCs. However, as yet there is no substantive evidence that these cells are DCs.…”

Quail as the chimeric counterpart of the chicken: Morphology and ontogeny of the bursa of Fabricius

“…The substance can "leak" from the medulla through the basement membrane of the cortico-medullary border and appear in the cortex. Bursal secretory dendritic cells can be identified in the cortex neither by light and transmission microscopy nor by anti-IgG and 74.3 monoclonal antibodies (Glick, 1995;Olá h and Glick, 1995;Gallego et al, 1996;Jeurissen et al, 1998) but NIC2-positive cells occur in the cortex. The NIC2-positive cells of the cortex possibly endocytosed the substance, but did not produce it.…”