CD8α+ dendritic cells originate from the CD8α− dendritic cell subset by a maturation process involving CD8α, DEC-205, and CD24 up-regulation

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Abstract
CD8α+ and CD8α− dendritic cells (DCs) have been considered as independent DC subpopulations both ontogenetically and functionally during recent years. However, it has been demonstrated that both DC subsets can be generated from a single precursor population, supporting the concept that they do not represent separate DC lineages. By using highly purified splenic CD8α− DCs, which were injected intravenously and traced by means of an Ly5.1/Ly5.2 transfer system, this study shows that CD8α− DCs acquired the phenotypic characteristics of CD8α+ DCs, by a differentiation process involving CD8α, DEC-205, and CD24 up-regulation, paralleled by the down-regulation of CD11b, F4/80, and CD4. These data demonstrate that CD8α+DCs derive from CD8α− DCs, and strongly support that CD8α− and CD8α+ DCs represent different maturation or differentiation stages of the same DC population. Therefore, CD8α+ DCs would represent the last stage of DC differentiation, playing an essential role in the induction of T-cell responses, due to their antigen-presenting potential, cross-priming ability, and capacity to secrete large amounts of key cytokines such as interferon γ and interleukin-12.