Differential expression of co-signal molecules and migratory properties in four distinct subsets of migratory dendritic cells from the oral mucosa.

Variations in co-signal ligand expression and cytokine production greatly influence the antigen-presenting properties of migrating DCs in regional lymph nodes (RLNs). Here we investigated DCs migrating from the oral mucosa using CD326 and CD103 antigens for discriminate CD207(+) Langerhans cells (LCs) from CD207(+) submucosal DCs (SMDCs). Similar to DCs migrating from the skin, we identified four distinct oral mucosal DC (OMDC) subsets, CD11c(hi)CD207(-)CD103(-)CD326(int)CD11b(hi) (F1; resident CD11b(hi) SMDCs), CD11c(int/lo)CD207(-)CD103(-)CD326(lo)CD11b(int/hi) (F2; newly recruited blood-derived SMDCs), CD11c(int/lo)CD207(+)CD103(+)CD326(int/hi)CD11b(lo) (CD103(+) F3; resident CD207(+) SMDCs), and CD11c(int/lo)CD207(+)CD103(-)CD326(int/hi)CD11b(lo) (CD103(-) F3; resident LCs).

Multilocus sequence typing analysis of Streptococcus mutans strains with the cnm gene encoding collagen-binding adhesin.

Streptococcus mutans is one of the oral pathogens associated with infective endocarditis (IE). With respect to bacterial binding ability to the extracellular matrix, the Cnm protein, a cell surface collagen-binding adhesin of S. mutans, is known as one of the possible virulence factors with regard to IE.

Keratinocyte-associated B7-H1 directly regulates cutaneous effector CD8+ T cell responses.

Keratinocytes (KCs) may play important roles for maintenance of peripheral tolerance in the upper layers of the skin. Coinhibitory signals mediated via the programmed death (PD)-1 and its ligand B7-H1 (PD-L1/CD274) are crucial for the downregulation of T cell immune responses and for the maintenance of peripheral tolerance. In this study, to investigate the role of KC-expressed B7-H1 in the regulation of T cell immune responses, we generated transgenic (tg) mice overexpressing B7-H1 under the control of keratin 14 (K14) promoter (K14-B7-H1 tg).

Identification of three distinct subsets of migrating dendritic cells from oral mucosa within the regional lymph nodes.

To investigate the phenotypic and migrational properties of oral mucosal dendritic cells (OMDCs), fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) was painted onto mouse buccal mucosa and the expression patterns of functional molecules in FITC-bearing migrating DCs within the regional lymph nodes (RLNs) were analysed. We found three distinct subpopulations of migrating OMDCs within the RLNs: CD11c(hi) CD207(-) (F1), CD11c(int/lo) CD207(-) (F2) and CD11c(int/lo) CD207(+) (F3). The F1 DCs reached the RLNs earlier (after 24 hr) but diminished immediately.