[Isolation and characterization of dendritic cells from normal human esophageal mucosa].

Aim: To investigate the characteristics of dendritic cells (DCs) from normal human esophageal mucosa.

Methods: We collected normal esophageal mucosa samples from healthy individuals using endoscope and isolated mononuclear cells from the samples using Ficoll-Hypaque density gradient centrifugation. DCs were further separated by magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS) to analyze DCs subsets by flow cytometry.

Results: Three mononuclear cell populations were detected in normal human esophageal mucosa: HLA-DR(high)/CD13(low);, HLA-DR(med)/CD13(+); and HLA-DR(-)/CD13(+). HLA-DR(high)/CD13(low); cells expressed the DCs-associated molecules and were referred to as esophageal mucosal DCs. The DCs were immature since they expressed low levels of CD80, CD83 and CD86.

Conclusion: HLA-DR(high)/CD13(low); cells isolated from the normal human esophageal mucosa were proved to be DCs. DCs can be successfully isolated from esophageal mucosa.