Heterogeneity of freshly isolated human tonsil dendritic cells demonstrated by intracellular markers, phagocytosis, and membrane dye transfer

Abstract

Background: Heterogeneity within human dendritic cells (DCs) has been described but its functional relationships to cells of macrophage lineage and its role in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in vivo remain unclear. Methods: Tonsil macrophages and DCs were isolated from low-density cells by negative selection and DCs were sorted into myeloid and plasmacytoid populations using antibodies to CD11c or CD123. Phagocytosis of latex beads and uptake of dye-labeled target cells were compared by flow cytometry and CD68 and S-100 by immunofluorescence on cytospins of sorted cells. Results: Bead uptake and membrane dye transfer were found in both blood and tonsil CD11c+ DCs and in CD14+ c..