Aberrant tissue positioning of metallophilic macrophages in the thymus of XCL1-deficient mice.
Metallophilic macrophages hold a strategic position within the thymic tissue and play a considerable function in thymic physiology. The development and positioning of these cells within thymic tissue are regulated by complex molecular mechanisms involving different cytokine/chemokine axes. Herein, we studied the role of XCL1 signaling in these processes. We show that in the XCL1-deficient thymus numerous metallophilic macrophages are aberrantly positioned in the thymic cortex, instead of their normal location in the cortico-medullary zone. Still, these cells retain their normal appearance: very large size with prominent, ramifying cytoplasmic prolongations. This shows that XCL1 signaling is not involved in morphological development, but rather in correct positioning of metallophilic macrophages within the thymic tissue. In contrast to thymic metallophilic macrophages, the positioning of splenic marginal metallophilic macrophages is not affected by XCL1-deficiency.
Institute of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
Novica M
NM
Milićević
Ivana M
IM
Lalić
Sanja Z
SZ
Despotović
Darko N
DN
Ćirić
Jűrgen
J
Westermann
Rene
R
De Waal Malefyt
Živana
Ž
Milićević
D000818:Animals; D019744:Chemokines, C / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry*; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology*; D000096927:AIRE Protein
D019744:Chemokines, C; D012834:Silver; D014157:Transcription Factors; D000096927:AIRE Protein; C486249:Xcl1 protein, mouse
chemokine receptors; chemokines; dendritic cells; metallophilic macrophages; mouse; thymus