Langerhans cells and SFRP2/Wnt/beta‐catenin signalling control adaptation of skin epidermis to mechanical stretching

The origin of Langerhans cells (LCs), which are skin epidermis-resident macrophages, remains unclear. Current lineage tracing of LCs largely relies on the promoter-Cre-LoxP system, which often gives rise to contradictory conclusions with different promoters. Thus, reinvestigation with an improved tracing method is necessary. Here, using a laser-mediated temporal-spatial resolved cell labeling method, we demonstrated that most adult LCs originated from the ventral wall of the dorsal aorta (VDA), an equivalent to the mouse aorta, gonads, and mesonephros (AGM), where both hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and non-HSC progenitors are generated. Further fine-fate mapping analysis revealed that the appearance of LCs in adult zebrafish was correlated with the development of HSCs, but not T cell progenitors. Finally, we showed that the appearance of tissue-resident macrophages in the brain, liver, heart, and gut of adult zebrafish was also correlated with HSCs. Thus, the results of our study challenged the EMP-origin theory for LCs.

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Multicolor fate mapping of Langerhans cell homeostasis

Journal of Experimental Medicine ◽

10.1084/jem.20130403 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 210 (9) ◽

pp. 1657-1664 ◽

Cited By ~ 85

Author(s):

Clément Ghigo ◽

Isabelle Mondor ◽

Audrey Jorquera ◽

Jonathan Nowak ◽

Stephan Wienert ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Langerhans Cells ◽

Alternative Model ◽

Fate Mapping ◽

Cell Population Dynamics ◽

Daughter Cells ◽

General Utility ◽

Novel Approach ◽

Mapping System ◽

Skin Epidermis

Langerhans cells (LCs) constitute a network of immune sentinels in the skin epidermis that is seeded during embryogenesis. Whereas the development of LCs has been extensively studied, much less is known about the homeostatic renewal of adult LCs in “nonmanipulated” animals. Here, we present a new multicolor fluorescent fate mapping system and quantification approach to investigate adult LC homeostasis. This novel approach enables us to propose and provide evidence for a model in which the adult epidermal LC network is not formed by mature coequal LCs endowed with proliferative capabilities, but rather constituted by adjacent proliferative units composed of “dividing” LCs and their terminally differentiated daughter cells. Altogether, our results demonstrate the general utility of our novel fate-mapping system to follow cell population dynamics in vivo and to establish an alternative model for LC homeostasis.

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Dendritic cells of the human epidermis: immuno-electron microscopic studies of la antigen reactivity

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100084090 ◽

1978 ◽

Vol 36 (2) ◽

pp. 644-645

Author(s):

G. Rowden ◽

M. G. Lewis ◽

T. M. Phillips

Keyword(s):

Dendritic Cells ◽

Langerhans Cells ◽

Cell Types ◽

Cell Type ◽

Electron Microscopic ◽

La Antigen ◽

Microscopic Studies ◽

A Cell ◽

C3 Receptors ◽

Antigen Reactivity

Langerhans cells of mammalian stratified squamous epithelial have proven to be an enigma since their discovery in 1868. These dendritic suprabasal cells have been considered as related to melanocytes either as effete cells, or as post divisional products. Although grafting experiments seemed to demonstrate the independence of the cell types, much confusion still exists. The presence in the epidermis of a cell type with morphological features seemingly shared by melanocytes and Langerhans cells has been especially troublesome. This so called "indeterminate", or " -dendritic cell" lacks both Langerhans cells granules and melanosomes, yet it is clearly not a keratinocyte. Suggestions have been made that it is related to either Langerhans cells or melanocyte. Recent studies have unequivocally demonstrated that Langerhans cells are independent cells with immune function. They display Fc and C3 receptors on their surface as well as la (immune region associated) antigens.

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