Mouse lymphoid tissue contains distinct subsets of langerin/CD207 dendritic cells, only one of which represents epidermal-derived Langerhans cells.
Langerin/CD207 is a C-type lectin associated with formation of Birbeck granules (BG) in Langerhans cells (LC). Here, we describe a monoclonal antibody (mAb 205C1) recognizing the extracellular domain of mouse langerin. Cell-surface langerin was detected in all epidermal LC, which presented a uniform phenotype. Two subpopulations of langerin+ cells were identified in peripheral lymph nodes (LN). One population (subset 1) was CD11c(low/+)/CD8alpha(-/low)/CD11b+/CD40+/CD86+. The other population (subset 2) was CD11c(high)/CD8alpha+/CD11b(low), and lacked CD40 and CD86. Only subset 1 was fluorescein 5-isothiocyanate (FITC+) following painting onto epidermis, and the appearance of such FITC+ cells in draining LN was inhibited by pertussis toxin. Mesenteric LN, spleen, and thymus contained only a single population of langerin+ DC, corresponding to peripheral LN subset 2. Unexpectedly, BG were absent from spleen CD8alpha+ DC despite expression of langerin, and these organelles were not induced by mAb 205C1. Collectively, we demonstrate that two langerin+ DC populations (subsets 1 and 2) co-exist in mouse lymphoid tissue. Subset 1 unequivocally identifies epidermal LC-derived DC. The distribution of subset 2 indicates a non-LC origin of these langerin+ cells. These findings should facilitate our understanding of the role played by langerin in lymphoid organ DC subsets.
Douillard
Patrice
P
Laboratory for Immunological Research, Schering Plough, Dardilly, France.
Stoitzner
Patrizia
P
Tripp
Christoph H
CH
Clair-Moninot
Valérie
V
Aït-Yahia
Smina
S
McLellan
Alex D
AD
Eggert
Andreas
A
Romani
Nikolaus
N
Saeland
Sem
S
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000145:classification* / Q000276:immunology; D000078404:Epidermal Cells; D004817:Epidermis / Q000276:immunology*; D000939:Epitopes / Q000032:analysis; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000145:classification* / Q000276:immunology; D037181:Lectins, C-Type / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D008221:Lymphoid Tissue / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D037241:Mannose-Binding Lectins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000954:Antigens, Surface; C498497:Cd207 protein, mouse; D000939:Epitopes; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D037241:Mannose-Binding Lectins