CD1c-Expression by Monocytes - Implications for the Use of Commercial CD1c+ Dendritic Cell Isolation Kits

PLoS One. 2016 Jun 16;11(6):e0157387. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0157387. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

Conventional dendritic cells (cDCs) comprise a heterogeneous population of cells that are important regulators of immunity and homeostasis. CD1c+ cDCs are present in human blood and tissues, and found to efficiently activate naïve CD4+ T cells. While CD1c is thought to specifically identify this subset of human cDCs, we show here that also classical and intermediate monocytes express CD1c. Accordingly, the commercial CD1c (BDCA-1)+ Dendritic Cell Isolation Kit isolates two distinct cell populations from blood: CD1c+CD14- cDCs and CD1c+CD14+ monocytes. CD1c+ cDCs and CD1c+ monocytes exhibited strikingly different properties, including their differential regulation of surface marker expression, their levels of cytokine production, and their ability to stimulate naïve CD4+ T cells. These results demonstrate that a commercial CD1c (BDCA-1)+ Dendritic Cell Isolation Kit isolates two functionally different cell populations, which has important implications for the interpretation of previously generated data using this kit to characterize CD1c+ cDCs.

MeSH terms

  • Antigens, CD1 / genetics
  • Antigens, CD1 / immunology*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Cell Communication
  • Cell Separation / methods*
  • Coculture Techniques
  • Dendritic Cells / cytology
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology*
  • Flow Cytometry / standards*
  • Gene Expression
  • Glycoproteins / genetics
  • Glycoproteins / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Monocytes / cytology
  • Monocytes / immunology*
  • Primary Cell Culture
  • Reagent Kits, Diagnostic

Substances

  • Antigens, CD1
  • CD1C protein, human
  • Glycoproteins
  • Reagent Kits, Diagnostic

Grants and funding

This work was partly supported by the Research Council of Norway through its Centres of Excellence funding scheme, project number 179573/V40 (LR FLJ); and by a grant from the South Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority, project number 1012105 (LR GRM OJBL FLJ ESB). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.