Visualizing dendritic cell networks in vivo

RL Lindquist, G Shakhar, D Dudziak… - Nature …, 2004 - nature.com
RL Lindquist, G Shakhar, D Dudziak, H Wardemann, T Eisenreich, ML Dustin
Nature immunology, 2004nature.com
In the steady state, dendritic cells (DCs) in the lymph node induce T cell tolerance to self
antigens. Innate signals trigger the maturation of tissue DCs, which migrate into lymph
nodes and activate T cells. To examine DCs in vivo, we produced transgenic mice whose
DCs expressed enhanced yellow fluorescent protein. Two-photon microscopy of lymph
nodes in live mice showed that most of the steady-state DCs were enmeshed in an
extensive network and remained in place while actively probing adjacent T cells with their …
Abstract
In the steady state, dendritic cells (DCs) in the lymph node induce T cell tolerance to self antigens. Innate signals trigger the maturation of tissue DCs, which migrate into lymph nodes and activate T cells. To examine DCs in vivo, we produced transgenic mice whose DCs expressed enhanced yellow fluorescent protein. Two-photon microscopy of lymph nodes in live mice showed that most of the steady-state DCs were enmeshed in an extensive network and remained in place while actively probing adjacent T cells with their processes. Mature DCs were more motile than steady-state DCs and were rapidly dispersed and integrated into the sessile network, facilitating their interaction with migrating T cells.
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