Dendritic cells (DCs) and monocyte-derived macrophages (M s) are key components of intestinal immunity. However, the lack of surface markers differentiating M s from DCs has hampered understanding of their respective functions. Here, we demonstrate that, using CD64 expression, M s can be distinguished from DCs in the intestine of both mice and humans. On that basis, we revisit the phenotype of intestinal DCs in the absence of contaminating M s and we delineate a developmental pathway in the healthy intestine that leads from newly extravasated Ly-6C hi monocytes to intestinal M s. We determine how inflammation impacts this pathway and show that T cell-mediated colitis is associated with massive recruitment of monocytes to the intestine and the mesenteric lymph node (MLN). There, these monocytes differentiate into inflammatory M s endowed with phagocytic activity and the ability to produce inducible nitric oxide synthase. Eur. J. Immunol. 2012. 42: 3150-3166 HIGHLIGHTS 3151
IntroductionThe intestinal lamina propria (LP) contains cells that express high levels of CX 3 CR1, the receptor for the fractalkine chemokine [1,2]. Based on their monocytic origin and on their inability to migrate to the mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) such CX 3 CR1 hi cells have been defined as macrophages (M s) [1][2][3]. CX 3 CR1 hi M s contribute to the intestinal LP homeostasis through the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines and the clearance of commensal bacteria that breach the epithelial barrier [4]. In contrast, during intestinal inflammation, microenvironmental signals promote the differentiation of extravasated monocytes into proinflammatory M s with the ability to produce interleukin (IL)-12, IL-23, tumor necrosis (TNF)-α and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) [5][6][7]. However, little is known about the developmental trajectories that lead extravasated monocytes to either antior proinflammatory intestinal M s. This is primarily due to the fact that a surface marker permitting unequivocal identification of M s within the intestine and their distinction from dendritic cells (DCs) is lacking. The interstitial DCs (Int-DCs) present throughout the LP derive from blood precursors known as pre-DCs [2]. Under steady-state conditions, the Int-DCs found in the intestinal LP induce oral tolerance by carrying antigens originating from food or from harmless bacteria to the MLNs [8,9]. The CD103 + Int-DCs found in the steady-state LP have the selective ability to express aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) and thereby produce retinoic acid (RA). As a result, upon migration to MLNs they trigger the differentiation of naive CD4 + T cells specific for food and microbiota antigens into induced Foxp3 + regulatory T (iTreg) cells [10][11][12][13]. In contrast, the Int-DCs that develop in inflamed LP upon exposure to pathogens lose their capacity to generate iTreg cells and, upon migration to the MLNs, trigger the differentiation of naive, antigen-responsive CD4 + T cells into T helper type 1 (Th1) cells that are specific for the invading patho...