The role of the mesenchymal cells expressing Tlx1 in the adult spleen

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K19136
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Immunology
• Research Institution: Tokyo University of Science
• Principal Investigator: Akihisa Oda 東京理科大学, 研究推進機構生命医科学研究所, 助教 (80547703)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: Tlx1 / 間葉系幹細胞 / FDC / FRC / MRC / 脾臓

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Spleen microenvironment is composed of various stromal components, such as follicular dendritic cells (FDCs), fibroblastic reticular cells (FRCs), and marginal reticular cells (MRCs). These stromal cells serve as an essential niche for various functions of the spleen. However, it remains obscure how the stromal microenvironment is maintained throughout life. We generated a reporter mouse in which the CreERT2-Ires2-Venus cassette was knocked into the Tlx1 gene locus, with the Rosa26-tdTomato allele. A majority of Tlx1+ cells was localized in the red pulp, and these cells did not express the splenic mature stromal cell markers. To explore the relation of Tlx1+ cells to mature stromal cells, we treated the mice with tamoxifen at the various stages and then examined their fate. The tdTomato+ cells were observed inside the white pulp, which include FDCs, FRCs and MRCs in the every stages of the spleen. Thus, we showed that Tlx1+ cells serve as a source of mature stromal cells.

Free Research Field

免疫学