Gene expression signatures of splenic CD31+ACKR4+ and CD31+ACKR4- endothelial cells from Ackr4GFP/wt mice

The atypical chemokine receptor 4 (ACKR4)-expressing spleen endothelial cells (ECs) form a three-dimensional sinusoidal network connected via shunts to the marginal sinus and tightly surrounds the outer perimeter of the marginal zone. To better define this new vascular compartment within the red pulp of the spleen, were sorted CD31+ACKR4+ and CD31+ACKR4- EC populations, routinely yielding 92-98% cell purity and analyzed their transcriptional profiles. Samples of CD31+ACKR4+ and CD31+ACKR4- EC populations were obtained in two completely independent flow cytometric sorts from spleens of 2-3 Ackr4GFP/wt mice (Heinzel et al., 2007, Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 104, 8421) for each sort.