Identification of ITGA4/ITGB7 and ITGAE/ITGB7 expressing subsets of decidual dendritic-like cells within distinct microdomains of the pregnant mouse uterus.
Several leukocyte populations have been described within the pregnant mouse uterus, some of which express the integrin beta 7 (ITGB7). Here we demonstrate that the majority of the ITGB7(+) decidual leukocytes belong to the dendritic cell (DC) lineage. By multiparameter flow cytometric analysis we demonstrated the existence of three distinct DC subsets, characterized by differential expression of ITGA4/ITGB7 (formerly alpha4beta7-integrin) and ITGAE/ITGB7 (formerly alphaEbeta7-integrin). Importantly, the predominant DC subsets reside in distinct microdomains of the Day 9 pregnant mouse uterus. ITGAX(+) ITGAM(med) ITGA4/ITGB7(+) ITGAE(-) (formerly CD11c(+) CD11b(med) alpha4beta7(+) alphaE(-)) cells represent the majority of DCs in the vascular zone (VZ), whereas ITGAX(+) ITGAM(-) ITGAE/ITGB7(+) (formerly CD11c(+) CD11b(-) alphaEbeta7(+)) DCs are mainly located in the lower central decidua basalis (cDB) and the underlying myometrium. A population of ITGAX(+) ITGAM(low) DCs lacking ITGB7 are restricted to the cDB. Confocal microscopy studies show direct contact of VZ DCs with uterine natural killer (uNK) cells, suggesting a functional relationship between both cell populations. Collectively, our data identify three phenotypically distinct DC subsets residing in distinct microdomains of the uterus. The differential expression of ITGA4/ITGB7 and ITGAE/ITGB7 suggests distinct functional roles of the different DC subsets during early pregnancy.
Institut für Systemische Entzündungsforschung, University of Lübeck, 23538 Lübeck, Germany.
Jochen
J
Behrends
Christian M
CM
Karsten
Sonja
S
Wilke
Astrid
A
Röbke
Andrea
A
Kruse
D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism*; D002469:Cell Separation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003656:Decidua / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D039001:Integrin alpha Chains / Q000378:metabolism*; D039441:Integrin alpha4 / Q000378:metabolism*; D039641:Integrin beta Chains / Q000378:metabolism*; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008954:Models, Biological; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000378:metabolism*; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014599:Uterus / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*
D015703:Antigens, CD; D039001:Integrin alpha Chains; D039641:Integrin beta Chains; C091367:alpha E integrins; C091368:integrin beta7; D039441:Integrin alpha4