title: Ovarian phagocyte subsets and their distinct tissue distribution patterns.
abstract: Ovarian macrophages, which play critical roles in various ovarian events, are probably derived from multiple lineages. Thus, a systemic classification of their subsets is a necessary first step for determination of their functions. Utilizing antibodies to five phagocyte markers, i.e. IA/IE (major histocompatibility complex class II), F4/80, CD11b (Mac-1), CD11c, and CD68, this study investigated subsets of ovarian phagocytes in mice. Three-color immunofluorescence and flow cytometry, together with morphological observation on isolated ovarian cells, demonstrated complicated phenotypes of ovarian phagocytes. Four macrophage and one dendritic cell subset, in addition to many minor phagocyte subsets, were identified. A dendritic cell-like population with a unique phenotype of CD11c(high)IA/IE⁻F4/80⁻ was also frequently observed. A preliminary age-dependent study showed dramatic increases in IA/IE⁺ macrophages and IA/IE⁺ dendritic cells after puberty. Furthermore, immunofluorescences on ovarian sections showed that each subset displayed a distinct tissue distribution pattern. The pattern for each subset may hint to their role in an ovarian function. In addition, partial isolation of ovarian macrophage subset using CD11b antibodies was attempted. Establishment of this isolation method may have provided us a tool for more precise investigation of each subset's functions at the cellular and molecular levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Biomedical Sciences, SD, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, <br/>5326 BBSB, 1941 East Road, Houston, Texas 77054, USA and.
authors.forename: Colin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Carlock
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Cindy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: April
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: Henry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.forename: Yahuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lou
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D039481:CD11b Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D019070:Cell Lineage; D054338:Cell Transdifferentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003338:Corpus Luteum / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D010053:Ovary / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D010586:Phagocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D010587:Phagocytosis; D012741:Sexual Maturation
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D039481:CD11b Antigen