title: Cell-surface marker analysis of rat thymic dendritic cells.
abstract: Rat thymic dendritic cells have been isolated by collagenase digestion, separation of the low-density cell fraction by centrifugation on metrizamide, and differential adherence. The resulting dendritic cell preparation had a purity of > 90%, and has been analysed by flow cytometry (FCM) using a large panel of monoclonal antibodies (mAb). Dendritic cells expressed major histocompatibility (MHC) class I and class II molecules, the leucocyte common antigen CD45, the rat leucocyte antigen OX44, the rat macrophage marker ED1, and the adhesion molecules Mac-1, LFA-1 and ICAM-1. They were negative for the T- and B-cell-specific forms of CD45, CD45R and B220, and the B-cell marker OX12. Concerning T-cell marker expression, they were negative for T-cell receptor (TcR) and OX40, but they expressed CD2, CD4 and CD8, and interestingly, 50% of DC were CD5+, 50% expressed the alpha-chain of interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R), and 80% were positive for the T-cell activation antigen recognized by the mAb OX48. Moreover, 60% of DC expressed high levels of Thy-1, whereas 40% displayed intermediate levels of this T-cell marker.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Biology, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Bañuls
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alvarez
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ferrero
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zapata
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ardavin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis*; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000032:analysis; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D018800:Thy-1 Antigens; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000276:immunology*; D018127:Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 7
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015703:Antigens, CD; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D018800:Thy-1 Antigens; D018127:Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 7