Sca-1 expression defines developmental stages of mouse pDCs that show functional heterogeneity in the endosomal but not lysosomal TLR9 response - PubMed (original) (raw)

. 2013 Nov;43(11):2993-3005.

doi: 10.1002/eji.201343498. Epub 2013 Aug 27.

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Sca-1 expression defines developmental stages of mouse pDCs that show functional heterogeneity in the endosomal but not lysosomal TLR9 response

Marina Niederquell et al. Eur J Immunol. 2013 Nov.

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Abstract

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) play an important role in innate and adaptive immunity and were shown to be identical to previously described natural interferon (IFN)-α-producing cells. Here, we describe two functionally distinct pDC subpopulations that are characterized by the differential expression of stem cell antigen-1 (Sca-1; Ly-6A/E). Sca-1(-) pDCs are mainly found in the BM, appear first during development, show a higher proliferative activity, and represent the more precursor phenotype. Sca-1(+) pDCs are mostly located in secondary lymphoid organs and represent a later developmental stage. Sca-1(-) pDCs give rise to an Sca-1(+) subset upon activation or in response to endogenous type I IFN. Interestingly, in contrast to Sca-1(-) pDCs, Sca-1(+) pDCs are defective in IFN-α production upon endosomal TLR9 stimulation, whereas lysosomal signaling via TLR9 is functional in both subsets. Gene expression analysis revealed that osteopontin is strongly upregulated in Sca-1(-) pDCs. These data provide evidence for the molecular basis of the observed functional heterogeneity, as the intracellular isoform of osteopontin couples TLR9 signaling to IFN-α expression. Taken together, our results indicate that Sca-1(-) pDCs are an early developmental stage of pDCs with distinct innate functions representing the true murine natural IFN-α-producing cells.

Keywords: IFN-α; Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs); Sca-1; TLR9.

© 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

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