Hepatic dendritic cell subsets in the mouse

Abstract

The CD11c(+) cell population in the non-parenchymal cell population of the mouse liver contains dendritic cells (DC), NK cells, B cells and T cells. In the hepatic CD11c(+) DC population from immunocompetent or immunodeficient [recombinase-activating gene-1 (RAG1)(-/-)] C57BL/6 mice (rigorously depleted of T cells, B cells and NK cells), we identified a B220(+) CD11c(int) subset of 'plasmacytoid' DC, and a B220(-) CD11c(+) DC subset. The latter DC population could be subdivided into a major, immature (CD40(lo) CD80(lo) CD86(lo) MHC class II(lo)) CD11c(int) subset, and a minor, mature (CD40(hi) CD80(hi) CD86(hi) MHC class II(hi)) CD11c(hi) subset. Stimulated B220(+) but not B220(-) DC produced type I interferon. NKT cell activation in vivo increased the number of liver B220(-) DC three- to fourfold within 18 h post-injection, and up-regulated their surface expression of activation marker, while it contracted the B220(+) DC population. Early in virus infection, the hepatic B220(+) DC subset expanded, and both, the B220(+) as well as B220(-) DC populations in the liver matured. In vitro, B220(-) but not B220(+) DC primed CD4(+) or CD8(+)T cells. Expression of distinct marker profiles and functions, and distinct early reaction to activation signals hence identify two distinct B220(+) and B220(-) subsets in CD11c(+) DC populations freshly isolated from the mouse liver.

Glycolipid presentation to natural killer T cells differs in an organ-dependent fashion

“…Based on prior work showing a potent ability of DCs to stimulate NK T cells (14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)31), we first focused on these cells. To evaluate the role of DCs as APCs for NK T cells in vivo, we used a Tg mouse model that allows for transient depletion of DCs (22).…”

“…Fujii et al (14) showed that DCs loaded with ␣-GalCer and adoptively transferred into na ve mice stimulated a better NK T cell response in vivo than that stimulated by injection of free compound. Other studies have demonstrated the ability of ␣-GalCer to induce maturation of both splenic and hepatic DCs in vivo (15,16), and others have shown the importance of DCs as sources of ␣-GalCer-induced IL-12 (17)(18)(19).…”

Biliary Obstruction Selectively Expands and Activates Liver Myeloid Dendritic Cells

“…Lastly, in the report of Jomantaite et al (14), liver DCs were categorized based on the relative expression of CD8␣ and CD11b initially, but for functional analysis the myeloid and lymphoid fractions were combined as a CD11c intermediate B220 Ϫ group. In their analysis, the hepatic DCs were divided into two groups based solely on the expression of B220, and, consistent with our findings, they showed that bulk B220 Ϫ splenic DCs were more stimulatory.…”

Role of mucosal dendritic cells in inflammatory bowel disease

“…[78] . Further, the presence of CD8α + CD11b -and CD8α -CD11b + DCs has been reported [78] . The continuous exposure of resident APCs with the bacterial cell wall derived LPS promotes the induction of CD4 regulatory T cells and may explain the dominance of IL-10 in the liver [79,80] .…”