Abstract
Tissue macrophages in many adult organs originate from yolk sac (YS)
progenitors, which invade the developing embryo and persist by means of
local self-renewal. However, the route and characteristics of YS
macrophage trafficking during embryogenesis are incompletely understood.
Here we show the early migration dynamics of YS-derived macrophage
progenitors in vivo using fate mapping and intravital microscopy. From
embryonic day 8.5 (E8.5) CX3CR1+ pre-macrophages are present
in the mouse YS where they rapidly proliferate and gain access to the
bloodstream to migrate towards the embryo. Trafficking of
pre-macrophages and their progenitors from the YS to tissues peaks
around E10.5, dramatically decreases towards E12.5 and is no longer
evident from E14.5 onwards. Thus, YS progenitors use the vascular system
during a restricted time window of embryogenesis to invade the growing
fetus. These findings close an important gap in our understanding of the
development of the innate immune system.
Original language | English GB |
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Article number | 75 |
Pages (from-to) | 75 |
Journal | Nature Communications |
Volume | 9 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 1 Jan 2018 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Chemistry
- General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
- General Physics and Astronomy