Bone marrow-derived IL-13Rα1-positive thymic progenitors are restricted to the myeloid lineage

• Published in: The Journal of immunology (1950) 2012-04, Vol.188 (7), p.3208-3216
• Main Authors: Haymaker, Cara L, Guloglu, F Betul, Cascio, Jason A, Hardaway, John C, Dhakal, Mermagya, Wan, Xiaoxiao, Hoeman, Christine M, Zaghouani, Sarah, Rowland, Linda M, Tartar, Danielle M, VanMorlan, Amie M, Zaghouani, Habib
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Antigen-Presenting Cells - chemistry; Antigen-Presenting Cells - cytology; Antigen-Presenting Cells - drug effects; Antigen-Presenting Cells - immunology; Antigens, Differentiation - analysis; Bone Marrow Cells - chemistry; Bone Marrow Cells - classification; Cell Lineage; Cell Movement; Cells, Cultured; Female; Gene Knock-In Techniques; Granulocyte-Macrophage Progenitor Cells - chemistry; Granulocyte-Macrophage Progenitor Cells - cytology; Granulocyte-Macrophage Progenitor Cells - drug effects; Granulocyte-Macrophage Progenitor Cells - immunology; Interleukin-13 - pharmacology; Interleukin-13 Receptor alpha1 Subunit - analysis; Interleukin-13 Receptor alpha1 Subunit - deficiency; Interleukin-13 Receptor alpha1 Subunit - genetics; Lymphocytes, Null - cytology; Lymphopoiesis; Male; Mice; Mice, Congenic; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Knockout; Myelopoiesis; Sequence Deletion; T-Lymphocytes - cytology; Thymus Gland - cytology
• ISSN: 0022-1767; 1550-6606
• DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1103316

The earliest thymic progenitors (ETPs) were recently shown to give rise to both lymphoid and myeloid cells. Whereas the majority of ETPs are derived from IL-7Rα-positive cells and give rise exclusively to T cells, the origin of the myeloid cells remains undefined. In this study, we show both in vitro and in vivo that IL-13Rα1(+) ETPs yield myeloid cells with no potential for maturation into T cells, whereas IL-13Rα1(-) ETPs lack myeloid potential. Moreover, transfer of lineage-negative IL-13Rα1(+) bone marrow stem cells into IL-13Rα1-deficient mice reconstituted thymic IL-13Rα1(+) myeloid ETPs. Myeloid cells or macrophages in the thymus are regarded as phagocytic cells whose function is to clear apoptotic debris generated during T cell development. However, the myeloid cells derived from IL-13Rα1(+) ETPs were found to perform Ag-presenting functions. Thus, IL-13Rα1 defines a new class of myeloid restricted ETPs yielding APCs that could contribute to development of T cells and the control of immunity and autoimmunity.