BALB/c小鼠胸腺巨噬细胞不同亚群特性研究

Composition and characteristics of distinct macrophage subpopulations in the mouse thymus

目的研究小鼠胸腺巨噬细胞组成、分布、形态、功能。方法糖皮质激素诱导小鼠胸腺细胞凋亡,采用免疫荧光染色法,免疫组织化学和酸性磷酸酶(ACP)双重染色方法,发现小鼠胸腺巨噬细胞的不同表型。结果发现小鼠胸腺巨噬细胞存在四种表型:树状突起型细胞:可被Mac-2,F4/80单克隆抗体标记,数量最多,分布于整个胸腺实质且有吞噬作用;扁平型细胞:可被F4/80单克隆抗体标记,分布于皮质被膜下方;小卵圆型细胞:可被Mac-2单克隆抗体标记,分布于胸腺髓质和皮髓交界(CMR),此类细胞未见吞噬现象。ED1^+细胞:细胞形态不规则,主要分布于皮髓质交界区。以上不同的巨噬细胞亚群均可显示酸性磷酸酶活性。结论小鼠胸腺巨噬细胞存在不同亚群,表现在其组成、形态、分布、特点及功能差异等方面。

Objective This study aimed to characterize the composition, morphology, characteristics, distribution and function of distinct macrophage subpopulations in the mouse thymus. Methods The apoptosis was induced by glucocorticoid in mice thymocytes and three monoclonal antibodies Mac-2, F4/80, and ED1 were applied for immunofluorescence staining and immunohistochemistry analysis. Results We identified four subpopulations of mouse thymus macrophages. Dendritic macrophages recognized by Mac-2 and F4/80 were distributed in the entire thymus, and phagocytes were also found. Platevshaped macrophages recognized by F4/80 were distributed under the thymic cortex capsule. Small oval macrophages identified by Mac-2 were distributed in the thymic medulla and corticovmedullary junction(CMR) but phagocytes were not found in these types of cells. ED1^+ thymus macrophages with irregular forms were distributed in the CMR. All of the four subpopulations of mouse thymus macrophages described above showed acid phosphate activity. Conclusion This study demonstrated the existence of macrophage subpopulations with different shapes, distribution and functions in the mouse thymus.