engleski

Immunophenotype and distribution of dendritic cells in the porcine gut-associated lymphoid tissues

Porcine gut dendritic cells (DC), through their functional characteristics of antigen presenting cells (APC) and ability to regulate protective immunity or immune tolerance to intraluminal antigens, have a key role in orchestrating immunosurveillance at intestinal mucosal surfaces. We have therefore analyzed: (1) the distribution patterns of porcine DC residing mucosa of ileum, caecum and colon as well as mesenteric/colonic lymph nodes (MLN/CLN), and (2) their migration potential from lamina propria (LP) sites of intestines following stimuli by intraluminal antigens to MLN/CLN of adult swine. Three-color immunofluorescence (IF) was applied using monoclonal antibodies specific for porcine cell surface molecules (CD172, CD11R1, MHCII and CD16) on DC. The specimens were examined and analyzed using software program Jmage J" for digital image analysis. DC were strategically localized within the LP of ileal villi, adjacent to the epithelial layer and around the crypts of caecum/colon. However, certain differences in the co-expression of cell surface markers were observed within the tissues tested. Thus, within the ileal LP CD16+and CD11R1 + cells were prevalent, whereas CD172+ cells were much rarer. Conversely, in caecum the latter cells were more prominent, the CD16+ cells were also numerous, while CD11R1+ cells were extremely rare. In the colonic mucosa the most frequent were CD16+, CD11R1+ cells were very rare, whereas CD 172+ cells were almost absent. In the MLN, CD172+ cells were prevalent within follicular area, CD16+ cells were rare and none of CD11R1+ cells were examined. Within perifollicular area the most numerous were CD16+ cells, CD11R1 + cells were less prevalent, while CD172+ cells were sporadic. In the CLN, CD16+ cells were the most frequent in perifollicular area, CD11R1 + cells were less frequent and none of CD172+ cells were observed. Within the follicular area the most numerous were CD11R1 + cells, CD 172+ cells were very rare and CD16+ cells were absent. Our histomorphometric data on the migration potential of gut DC were indicative, and thus, could be of relevance for the assessment of their activity following uptake of luminal antigens and of their role in initiating of either protective or tolerogenic immune responses at the mucosal sites of porcine intestines.

dendritic cells; porcine

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