Skip to main content

Defining In Vivo Dendritic Cell Functions Using CD11c-DTR Transgenic Mice

  • Protocol
  • First Online:
Dendritic Cell Protocols

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 595))

Abstract

The study of dendritic cell involvement in complex phenomena that rely on multi-cellular interactions, such as immune homeostasis, stimulation, and tolerization, called for the investigation of dendritic cell functions within physiological context. To this end we have developed a conditional cell ablation strategy that is based on dendritic cell-restricted expression of a Diphtheria Toxin receptor (DTR) using the CD11c/Itgax promoter. Here, we provide basic protocols that describe the use of this prototypic dendritic cell ablation model and highlight pitfalls and strengths of the approach.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Protocol
USD 49.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 89.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Delamarre, L., Pack, M., Chang, H., Mellman, I., and Trombetta, E. S. (2005) Differential lysosomal proteolysis in antigen-presenting cells determines antigen fate. Science 307, 1630–4.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Blander, J. M., and Medzhitov, R. (2006) Toll-dependent selection of microbial antigens for presentation by dendritic cells. Nature 440, 808–12.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Savina, A., Jancic, C., Hugues, S., Guermonprez, P., Vargas, P., Moura, I. C., Lennon-Dumenil, A. M., Seabra, M. C., Raposo, G., and Amigorena, S. (2006) NOX2 controls phagosomal pH to regulate antigen processing during crosspresentation by dendritic cells. Cell 126, 205–18.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Lindquist, R. L., Shakhar, G., Dudziak, D., Wardemann, H., Eisenreich, T., Dustin, M. L., and Nussenzweig, M. C. (2004) Visualizing dendritic cell networks in vivo. Nat Immunol 5, 1243–50.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Jung, S., Unutmaz, D., Wong, P., Sano, G., De los Santos, K., Sparwasser, T., Wu, S., Vuthoori, S., Ko, K., Zavala, F., Pamer, E. G., Littman, D. R., and Lang, R. A. (2002) In vivo depletion of CD11c(+) dendritic cells abrogates priming of CD8(+) T cells by exogenous cell-associated antigens. Immunity 17, 211–20.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Probst, H. C., Lagnel, J., Kollias, G., and van den Broek, M. (2003) Inducible transgenic mice reveal resting dendritic cells as potent inducers of CD8+ T cell tolerance. Immunity 18, 713–20.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Caton, M. L., Smith-Raska, M. R., and Reizis, B. (2007) Notch-RBP-J signaling controls the homeostasis of CD8- dendritic cells in the spleen. J Exp Med 204, 1653–64.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Sapoznikov, A., Pewzner-Jung, Y., Kalchenko, V., Krauthgamer, R., Shachar, I., and Jung, S. (2008) Perivascular clusters of dendritic cells provide critical survival signals to B cells in bone marrow niches. Nat Immunol 2008 Apr; 9(4):388–95.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Plaks, V., Birnberg, T., Berkutzki, T., Sela, S., Benyashar, A., Kalchenko, V., Mor, G., Keshet, E., Dekel, N., Neeman, M., and Jung, S. (2008) Uterine DCs are crucial for decidua formation during embryo implantation in mice. J Clin Invest 118, 3954–65.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Varol, C., Landsman, L., Fogg, D. K., Greenshtein, L., Gildor, B., Margalit, R., Kalchenko, V., Geissmann, F., and Jung, S. (2007) Monocytes give rise to mucosal, but not splenic, conventional dendritic cells. J Exp Med 204, 171–80.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Merad, M., and Ginhoux, F. (2007) Dendritic cell genealogy: A new stem or just another branch? Nat Immunol 8, 1199–201.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Steinman, R. M., and Witmer, M. D. (1978) Lymphoid dendritic cells are potent stimulators of the primary mixed leukocyte reaction in mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 75, 5132–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Naglich, J. G., Metherall, J. E., Russell, D. W., and Eidels, L. (1992) Expression cloning of a diphtheria toxin receptor: identity with a heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor precursor. Cell 69, 1051–61.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Pappenheimer, A. M., Jr., Harper, A. A., Moynihan, M., and Brockes, J. P. (1982) Diphtheria toxin and related proteins: effect of route of injection on toxicity and the determination of cytotoxicity for various cultured cells. J Infect Dis 145, 94–102.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Saito, M., Iwawaki, T., Taya, C., Yonekawa, H., Noda, M., Inui, Y., Mekada, E., Kimata, Y., Tsuru, A., and Kohno, K. (2001) Diphtheria toxin receptor-mediated conditional and targeted cell ablation in transgenic mice. Nat Biotechnol 19, 746–50.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Yamaizumi, M., Mekada, E., Uchida, T., and Okada, Y. (1978) One molecule of diphtheria toxin fragment A introduced into a cell can kill the cell. Cell 15, 245–50.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Brocker, T., Riedinger, M., and Karjalainen, K. (1997) Targeted expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules demonstrates that dendritic cells can induce negative but not positive selection of thymocytes in vivo. J Exp Med 185, 541–50.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. van Rijt, L. S., Jung, S., Kleinjan, A., Vos, N., Willart, M., Duez, C., Hoogsteden, H. C., and Lambrecht, B. N. (2005) In vivo depletion of lung CD11c+ dendritic cells during allergen challenge abrogates the characteristic features of asthma. J Exp Med 201, 981–91.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Landsman, L., and Jung, S. (2007) Lung macrophages serve as obligatory intermediate between blood monocytes and alveolar macrophages. J Immunol 179, 3488–94.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Probst, H. C., Tschannen, K., Odermatt, B., Schwendener, R., Zinkernagel, R. M., and Van Den Broek, M. (2005) Histological analysis of CD11c-DTR/GFP mice after in vivo depletion of dendritic cells. Clin Exp Immunol 141, 398–404.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Huleatt, J. W., and Lefrancois, L. (1995) Antigen-driven induction of CD11c on intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes and CD8+ T cells in vivo. J Immunol 154, 5684–93.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Hebel, K., Griewank, K., Inamine, A., Chang, H. D., Muller-Hilke, B., Fillatreau, S., Manz, R. A., Radbruch, A., and Jung, S. (2006) Plasma cell differentiation in T-independent type 2 immune responses is independent of CD11c(high) dendritic cells. Eur J Immunol 36, 2912–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Sapoznikov, A., Fischer, J. A., Zaft, T., Krauthgamer, R., Dzionek, A., and Jung, S. (2007) Organ-dependent in vivo priming of naive CD4+,but not CD8+,T cells by plasmacytoid dendritic cells. J Exp Med 2007 Aug 6; 204(8):1923–33.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Lucas, M., Schachterle, W., Oberle, K., Aichele, P., and Diefenbach, A. (2007) Dendritic cells prime natural killer cells by trans-presenting interleukin 15. Immunity 26, 503–17.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Sapoznikov, A., and Jung, S. (2008) Probing in vivo dendritic cell functions by conditional cell ablation. Immunol Cell Biol 2008 Jul; 86(5):409–15.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Hogquist, K. A., Jameson, S. C., Heath, W. R., Howard, J. L., Bevan, M. J., and Carbone, F. R. (1994) T cell receptor antagonist peptides induce positive selection. Cell 76, 17–27.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Barnden, M. J., Allison, J., Heath, W. R., and Carbone, F. R. (1998) Defective TCR expression in transgenic mice constructed using cDNA-based alpha- and beta-chain genes under the control of heterologous regulatory elements. Immunol Cell Biol 76, 34–40.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Zaft, T., Sapoznikov, A., Krauthgamer, R., Littman, D. R., and Jung, S. (2005) CD11chigh dendritic cell ablation impairs lymphopenia-driven proliferation of naive and memory CD8+ T cells. J Immunol 175, 6428–35.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Zammit, D. J., Cauley, L. S., Pham, Q. M., and Lefrancois, L. (2005) Dendritic cells maximize the memory CD8 T cell response to infection. Immunity 22, 561–70.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Mahida, Y. R., Galvin, A. M., Gray, T., Makh, S., McAlindon, M. E., Sewell, H. F., and Podolsky, D. K. (1997) Migration of human intestinal lamina propria lymphocytes, macrophages and eosinophils following the loss of surface epithelial cells. Clin Exp Immunol 109, 377–86.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Hawkins, E. D., Hommel, M., Turner, M. L., Battye, F. L., Markham, J. F., and Hodgkin, P. D. (2007) Measuring lymphocyte proliferation, survival and differentiation using CFSE time-series data. Nat Protoc 2, 2057–67.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. den Haan, J. M., Lehar, S. M., and Bevan, M. J. (2000) CD8(+) but not CD8(-) dendritic cells cross-prime cytotoxic T cells in vivo. J Exp Med 192, 1685–96.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the past and present members of the Jung lab for sharing their protocols. This work was supported by the Israel Science Foundation (grant # 1057/03). S.J. is the incumbent of the Pauline Recanati Career Development Chair.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2010 Humana Press, a part of Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

About this protocol

Cite this protocol

Bar-On, L., Jung, S. (2010). Defining In Vivo Dendritic Cell Functions Using CD11c-DTR Transgenic Mice. In: Naik, S. (eds) Dendritic Cell Protocols. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 595. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60761-421-0_28

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60761-421-0_28

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-60761-420-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-60761-421-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

Publish with us

Policies and ethics