Identification of a Novel Cell Type in Peripheral Lymphoid Organs of Mice

Abstract

Previous studies have indicated that peripheral lymphoid organs contain a small population of an apparently novel cell type (13). These ~cells adhere to glass and plastic surfaces and are called "dendritic" cells, because their most striking morphological feature is the presence of many cell processes of varying size and shape. A number of tests in vitro demonstrated that dendritic cells do not have the functional properties of lymphocytes, macrophages, or nonphagocytic "reticular" cells (14). In this paper, we outline several properties of dendritic cells in situ, features which have been selected because of their demonstrated relevance in understanding the physiology of lymphoid organs. These properties include ontogeny, origin, steroid and radiosensitivity, kinetics and turnover, and response to antigen administration. In addition to their intrinsic importance, these characteristics of dendritic cells in situ further differentiate them from other previously described cell types in peripheral lymphoid organs. A most interesting feature of dendritic cells is that they are not rapidly proliferating but yet are constantly turning over at a surprisingly rapid rate under steady state conditions. The influx of new dendritic cells derives from a proliferating precursor pool located in bone marrow and in the nonglass-adherent cells of spleen. Materials and MethodsM/ce.--Inbred DBA/2, C57BL, and F1 hybrid (B6DFx) mice were purchased from the Jackson Laboratories, Bar Harbor, Maine. Outbred, 8-wk old, germ-free mice were obtained from Charles River Breeding Laboratories, Wilmington, Mass, while specific pathogen-free NCS mice were provided by The Rockefeller University colony.Dendritic Cells--Dendritic cells were harvested from spleen and lymph node suspensions prepared by manually dissociating the organs with fine forceps. Treatment with 0.05% collagenase (wt/vol in medium 199, Fx I, Sigma Chemical Co., St. Louis, Mo.) was used in instances where large numbers of splenic macrophages were required (14). Dendritic ceils were cultivated, identified, and quantitated as previously described (13).Effects of Ionizing Irradiation and Steroids.--Groups of 3-4 mice were examined 2 days * Supported by grants AI 07012 and AI

Cell migration and chimerism after whole-organ transplantation: The basis of graft acceptance

“…We propose that the crucial variable distinguishing the tolerogenicity of one organ graft from another under effective immunosuppression is its leukocyte (not its parenchymal) component, in a reversal of the immunogenic role described classically for these cells (77)(78)(79)(80)(81)(82)(84)(85)(86)(87)(88)(89)(90)(91). Thus, because of its dense constituency of these migratory leukocytes, the liver is high on the favorable tolerogenic list with the lung and intestine following and the kidney and heart bringing up the rear (Fig.…”

Microchimerism, dendritic cell progenitors and transplantation tolerance

“…They are widely dispersed in lymphoid and nonlymphoid organs and in the circulation [47,52]. Consequently, depletion of DC from allografts in order to reduce immunogenicity was a major theme in the transplantation literature throughout most of the first two decades after Steinman and Cohn [53] delineated these leukocytes as a separate lineage [53][54][55]. Until 1992, the therapeutic implications of the highly immunogenic DC were seen almost exclusively in the context of vaccine development and potential immunostimulation strategies for immunocompromised patients.…”

Anatomy of germinal centers in mouse spleen, with special reference to "follicular dendritic cells"

“…The cytoplasm consists mainly of large, thin sheets of cytoplasm which may fold and coil extensively and/or give rise to finer ramifications. We have also used the term "dendritic" cell in other ways: first, to describe a cell type that was isolated from "unstimulated" lymphoid organs in vitro (28,30), and second, to describe what we believed was its counterpart in situ in spleens of germ-free mice which have few GC's (31). At this time, we think that the latter entities represent part of a common cell lineage with FDC's (see below), so we must clarify these possibilities before changing terminology.…”