Flow cytometric analysis of myeloid cells in human blood, bronchoalveolar lavage, and lung tissues

YRA Yu, DF Hotten, Y Malakhau, E Volker… - American journal of …, 2016 - atsjournals.org
YRA Yu, DF Hotten, Y Malakhau, E Volker, AJ Ghio, PW Noble, M Kraft, JW Hollingsworth…
American journal of respiratory cell and molecular biology, 2016atsjournals.org
Clear identification of specific cell populations by flow cytometry is important to understand
functional roles. A well-defined flow cytometry panel for myeloid cells in human
bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and lung tissue is currently lacking. The objective of this study
was to develop a flow cytometry–based panel for human BAL and lung tissue. We obtained
and performed flow cytometry/sorting on human BAL cells and lung tissue. Confocal images
were obtained from lung tissue using antibodies for cluster of differentiation (CD) 206 …
Clear identification of specific cell populations by flow cytometry is important to understand functional roles. A well-defined flow cytometry panel for myeloid cells in human bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and lung tissue is currently lacking. The objective of this study was to develop a flow cytometry–based panel for human BAL and lung tissue. We obtained and performed flow cytometry/sorting on human BAL cells and lung tissue. Confocal images were obtained from lung tissue using antibodies for cluster of differentiation (CD)206, CD169, and E cadherin. We defined a multicolor flow panel for human BAL and lung tissue that identifies major leukocyte populations. These include macrophage (CD206+) subsets and other CD206 leukocytes. The CD206 cells include: (1) three monocyte (CD14+) subsets, (2) CD11c+ dendritic cells (CD14, CD11c+, HLA-DR+), (3) plasmacytoid dendritic cells (CD14, CD11c, HLA-DR+, CD123+), and (4) other granulocytes (neutrophils, mast cells, eosinophils, and basophils). Using this panel on human lung tissue, we defined two populations of pulmonary macrophages: CD169+ and CD169 macrophages. In lung tissue, CD169 macrophages were a prominent cell type. Using confocal microscopy, CD169+ macrophages were located in the alveolar space/airway, defining them as alveolar macrophages. In contrast, CD169 macrophages were associated with airway/alveolar epithelium, consistent with interstitial-associated macrophages. We defined a flow cytometry panel in human BAL and lung tissue that allows identification of multiple immune cell types and delineates alveolar from interstitial-associated macrophages. This study has important implications for defining myeloid cells in human lung samples.
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