Flt3L dependence helps define an uncharacterized subset of murine cutaneous dendritic cells.

Overview

Skin-derived dendritic cells (DCs) are potent antigen-presenting cells with critical roles in both adaptive immunity and tolerance to self. Skin DCs carry antigens and constitutively migrate to the skin-draining lymph nodes (LNs). In mice, Langerin-CD11b- dermal DCs are a low-frequency, heterogeneous, migratory DC subset that traffics to LNs (Langerin-CD11b- migDCs). Here, we build on the observation that Langerin-CD11b- migDCs are Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 ligand (Flt3L) dependent and strongly Flt3L responsive, which may relate them to classical DCs. Examination of DC capture of FITC from painted skin, DC isolation from skin explant culture, and from the skin of CCR7 knockout mice, which accumulate migDCs, demonstrate these cells are cutaneous residents. Langerin-CD11b- Flt3L-responsive DCs are largely CD24(+) and CX3CR1(low) and can be depleted from Zbtb46-DTR mice, suggesting classical DC lineage. Langerin-CD11b- migDCs present antigen with equal efficiency to other DC subsets ex vivo, including classical CD8α cDCs and Langerin+CD103+ dermal DCs. Finally, transcriptome analysis suggests a close relationship with other skin DCs, and a lineage relationship with other classical DCs. This work demonstrates that Langerin- CD11b- dermal DCs, a previously overlooked cell subset, may be an important contributor to the cutaneous immune environment.