Identification and characterization of equine blood plasmacytoid dendritic cells

Anja Ziegler; Eliane Marti; Artur Summerfield; Arnaud Baumann

doi:10.1016/j.dci.2016.08.005

Identification and characterization of equine blood plasmacytoid dendritic cells

Dev Comp Immunol. 2016 Dec:65:352-357. doi: 10.1016/j.dci.2016.08.005. Epub 2016 Aug 11.

Authors

Anja Ziegler¹, Eliane Marti², Artur Summerfield³, Arnaud Baumann⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Clinical Research and Veterinary Public Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Länggassstrasse 124, Bern, Switzerland.
² Department of Clinical Research and Veterinary Public Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Länggassstrasse 124, Bern, Switzerland. Electronic address: eliane.marti@vetsuisse.unibe.ch.
³ 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.
⁴ Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology (DIP), Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Länggassstrasse 122, Bern, Switzerland.

PMID: 27524460
DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2016.08.005

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.

Keywords: Dendritic cell subset; Horse; Plasmacytoid dendritic cell.

Publication types

Comparative Study
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Antigens, CD / metabolism
Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors / genetics
Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors / metabolism
Cell Differentiation
Cell Separation
Cells, Cultured
Core Binding Factor alpha Subunits / genetics
Core Binding Factor alpha Subunits / metabolism
Dendritic Cells / physiology*
Flow Cytometry
Gene Expression Profiling
Horses / immunology*
Interferon-alpha / metabolism*
Mammals
Membrane Proteins / metabolism
Toll-Like Receptor 9 / agonists

Substances

Antigens, CD
Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors
Core Binding Factor alpha Subunits
Interferon-alpha
Membrane Proteins
Toll-Like Receptor 9
flt3 ligand protein