title: Identification and characterization of equine blood plasmacytoid dendritic cells.
abstract: Dendritic cells (DC) are antigen-presenting cells that can be classified into three major cell subsets: conventional DC1 (cDC1), cDC2 and plasmacytoid DCs (pDC), none of which have been identified in horses. Therefore, the objective of this study was to identify and characterize DC subsets in equine peripheral blood, emphasizing on pDC. Surface marker analysis allowed distinction of putative DC subsets, according to their differential expression of CADM-1 and MHC class II. Equine pDC were found to be Flt3(+) CD4(low) CD13(-) CD14(-) CD172a(-) CADM-1(-) MHCII(low). The weak expression of CD4 on equine pDC contrasts with findings in several other mammals. Furthermore, pDC purified by fluorescence-activated cell sorting were found to be the only cell subset able to produce large amounts of IFN-α upon TLR9-agonist stimulation. The pDC identity was confirmed by demonstrating high-levels of PLAC8, RUNX2 and TCF4 expression, showing pDC-restricted expression in other mammals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Research and Veterinary Public Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Länggassstrasse 124, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ziegler
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Research and Veterinary Public Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Länggassstrasse 124, Bern, Switzerland. Electronic address: eliane.marti@vetsuisse.unibe.ch.
authors.forename: Eliane
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Marti
authors.affiliation: Institute of Virology and Immunology, Sensemattstrasse 293, Mittelhäusern, Switzerland; Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology (DIP), Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Länggassstrasse 122, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Artur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Summerfield
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology (DIP), Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Länggassstrasse 122, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Arnaud
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baumann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D051778:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002469:Cell Separation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D050657:Core Binding Factor alpha Subunits / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006736:Horses / Q000276:immunology*; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000378:metabolism*; D008322:Mammals; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051217:Toll-Like Receptor 9 / Q000819:agonists
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D051778:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors; D050657:Core Binding Factor alpha Subunits; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D051217:Toll-Like Receptor 9; C084881:flt3 ligand protein
keywords: Dendritic cell subset; Horse; Plasmacytoid dendritic cell