Phagocytosis imprints heterogeneity in tissue macrophages

Our study identifies the molecular heterogeneity of the populations of tissue resident macrophages that phagocytose circulating cells in the steady state. Phagocytic macrophages were isolated from bone marrow, large intestine and spleen based on the acquisition, or no acquisition, of DsRed fluorescence derived from phagocytosed DsRed-Tg. The phagocytosed cells originated from DsRed-Tg mice that were conjoined by parabiosis to non-fluorescent mice.

本研究阐明了稳态条件下吞噬循环细胞的组织驻留巨噬细胞群体的分子异质性。研究人员基于吞噬获得的DsRed转基因（DsRed-Tg）来源的DsRed荧光信号的存在与否，从骨髓、大肠及脾脏中分离得到吞噬性巨噬细胞。上述被吞噬的细胞源自与非荧光小鼠通过连体共生（parabiosis）方式进行连体配对的DsRed转基因小鼠。