TY - JOUR
T1 - Identification of IL-7-producing cells in primary and secondary lymphoid organs using IL-7-GFP knock-in mice
AU - Hara, Takahiro
AU - Shitara, Soichiro
AU - Imai, Kumiko
AU - Miyachi, Hitoshi
AU - Kitano, Satsuki
AU - Yao, Hisayuki
AU - Tani-ichi, Shizue
AU - Ikuta, Koichi
N1 - Copyright:
Copyright 2012 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2012/8/15
Y1 - 2012/8/15
N2 - IL-7 is a cytokine crucial for development and maintenance of lymphocytes and other hematopoietic cells. However, how IL-7-expressing cells are distributed in lymphoid organs is not well known. To address this question, we established and analyzed IL-7-GFP knock-in mice. Thymic epithelial cells (TECs) expressed high GFP levels in the cortex and medulla, as detected with an anti-GFP Ab. Thymic mesenchymal cells also expressed GFP. Flow cytometry analysis suggested that cortical TECs expressed higher GFP levels than did medullary TECs. In bone marrow, immunohistochemistry indicated high levels of GFP in many VCAM-1 +mesenchymal stromal cells and in some VCAM-1 - cells. Additionally, half of the VCAM-1 +CD31 - stromal cells and some platelet-derived growth factor receptor α + stromal cells were GFP +, as detected by flow cytometry. Moreover, we detected GFP expression in fibroblastic reticular cells in the T cell zone and cortical ridge of lymph nodes. Remarkably, lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) expressed GFP at high levels within the lymph node medulla, skin epidermis, and intestinal tissues. Additionally, we detected abundant IL-7 transcripts in isolated LECs, suggesting that LECs produce IL-7, a heretofore unknown finding. Furthermore, GFP is expressed in a subpopulation of intestinal epithelial cells, and that expression was markedly upregulated in a dextran sulfate sodium-induced acute colitis model. Overall, IL-7-GFP knock-in mice serve as a unique and powerful tool to examine the identity and distribution of IL-7-expressing cells in vivo.
AB - IL-7 is a cytokine crucial for development and maintenance of lymphocytes and other hematopoietic cells. However, how IL-7-expressing cells are distributed in lymphoid organs is not well known. To address this question, we established and analyzed IL-7-GFP knock-in mice. Thymic epithelial cells (TECs) expressed high GFP levels in the cortex and medulla, as detected with an anti-GFP Ab. Thymic mesenchymal cells also expressed GFP. Flow cytometry analysis suggested that cortical TECs expressed higher GFP levels than did medullary TECs. In bone marrow, immunohistochemistry indicated high levels of GFP in many VCAM-1 +mesenchymal stromal cells and in some VCAM-1 - cells. Additionally, half of the VCAM-1 +CD31 - stromal cells and some platelet-derived growth factor receptor α + stromal cells were GFP +, as detected by flow cytometry. Moreover, we detected GFP expression in fibroblastic reticular cells in the T cell zone and cortical ridge of lymph nodes. Remarkably, lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) expressed GFP at high levels within the lymph node medulla, skin epidermis, and intestinal tissues. Additionally, we detected abundant IL-7 transcripts in isolated LECs, suggesting that LECs produce IL-7, a heretofore unknown finding. Furthermore, GFP is expressed in a subpopulation of intestinal epithelial cells, and that expression was markedly upregulated in a dextran sulfate sodium-induced acute colitis model. Overall, IL-7-GFP knock-in mice serve as a unique and powerful tool to examine the identity and distribution of IL-7-expressing cells in vivo.
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U2 - 10.4049/jimmunol.1200586
DO - 10.4049/jimmunol.1200586
M3 - Article
C2 - 22786774
AN - SCOPUS:84864808073
VL - 189
SP - 1577
EP - 1584
JO - Journal of Immunology
JF - Journal of Immunology
SN - 0022-1767
IS - 4
ER -