title: Morphological and functional characteristics of rat steady state peritoneal dendritic cells.
abstract: Dendritic cells (DC) are present in lymphoid organs and also in many non-lymphoid tissues. In this study, DC in the steady state peritoneal cavity of rats were identified morphologically and functionally. Approximately 1% of the peritoneal cells are DC. On cytocentrifuge preparations these cells had the same characteristics as lymph node and spleen DC: they had an irregular outline, all were strongly MHC class II positive and had acid phosphatase activity in a spot in a juxtanuclear position. Also ultrastructurally, peritoneal DC were similar to DC isolated from lymph node and spleen. Enrichment of peritoneal DC, using overnight culture and a Nycodenz gradient, resulted in a highly purified DC fraction. Functionally, peritoneal DC appeared to be very potent antigen-presenting cells, far more potent than peritoneal macrophages, which had an inhibitory rather than an accessory function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, Medical Faculty, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: van Vugt
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Arkema
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Verdaasdonk
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Beelen
authors.forename: E W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Kamperdijk
mesh_terms: D000135:Acid Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology; D002469:Cell Separation; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000276:immunology; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000276:immunology; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000166:cytology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D010455:Peptides / Q000276:immunology; D010529:Peritoneal Cavity / Q000166:cytology*; D051381:Rats; D011912:Rats, Inbred ACI; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D010455:Peptides; C027606:L-glutamic acid-L-tyrosine copolymer; D000135:Acid Phosphatase