Identification of ITGA4/ITGB7 and ITGAE/ITGB7 expressing subsets of decidual dendritic-like cells within distinct microdomains of the pregnant mouse uterus

Biol Reprod. 2008 Oct;79(4):624-32. doi: 10.1095/biolreprod.107.067041. Epub 2008 Jun 18.

Abstract

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.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, CD / metabolism*
  • Cell Separation
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Decidua / cytology
  • Decidua / metabolism*
  • Dendritic Cells / cytology
  • Dendritic Cells / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Integrin alpha Chains / metabolism*
  • Integrin alpha4 / metabolism*
  • Integrin beta Chains / metabolism*
  • Leukocytes / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Models, Biological
  • Pregnancy / metabolism*
  • Tissue Distribution
  • Uterus / cytology
  • Uterus / metabolism*

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • Integrin alpha Chains
  • Integrin beta Chains
  • alpha E integrins
  • integrin beta7
  • Integrin alpha4