These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed


  • Title: TGF-beta is required to maintain the pool of immature Langerhans cells in the epidermis.
    Author: Kel JM, Girard-Madoux MJ, Reizis B, Clausen BE.
    Journal: J Immunol; 2010 Sep 15; 185(6):3248-55. PubMed ID: 20713882.
    Abstract:
    The pivotal role of TGF-beta in Langerhans cell (LC) development has been previously established in TGF-beta-deficient mice, which lack epidermal LCs. As to whether TGF-beta also governs LC homeostasis and function remains elusive. To assess the role of TGF-beta-mediated control of cutaneous dendritic cells (DCs) in vivo, we generated mice with a conditional knockout of the TGF-beta receptor 1 (TbetaR1) under a DC-specific promoter (DC-TbetaR1(del) mice). While initial LC seeding occurred in DC-TbetaR1(del) mice, the cells disappeared from the epidermis during the first week of life. TbetaR1-deficient LCs demonstrated spontaneous maturation and gained migratory potential based on increased surface expression of MHC class II, costimulatory molecules, and CCR7 and downregulation of E-cadherin. In parallel to their early loss from the epidermis, migrating LCs were reduced in the dermis and skin-draining lymph nodes of adult DC-TbetaR1(del) mice, whereas the number of Langerin(+) dermal DCs was similar to wild-type. In the absence of LCs, low-dose contact hypersensitivity in DC-TbetaR1(del) mice was significantly diminished. In contrast, ear swelling was restored to wild-type levels when a higher hapten dose was applied to efficiently target TbetaR1-deficient dermal DCs. In conclusion, TGF-beta inhibits in vivo LC maturation and migratory phenotype, identifying TGF-beta as a critical factor controlling LC homeostasis in the steady state.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]