B cell‐specific protein FCRLA is expressed by plasmacytoid dendritic cells in humans. Issue 4 (19th January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Reshetnikova, Evdokiya; Guselnikov, Sergey; Volkova, Olga; Baranov, Konstantin; Taranin, Alexander; Mechetina, Ludmila
• Is Part Of: Cytometry. Volume 94:Issue 4(2018)
• Page Start: 683
• Page End: 687
• Publication Date: 2018-01-19
• Subjects: FCRLA -- plasmacytoid dendritic cells -- human PBMC -- flow cytometry; Flow cytometry -- Diagnostic use -- Periodicals; Cytodiagnosis -- Periodicals; 616.07582
• DOI: 10.1002/cyto.b.21611
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1552-4949

Abstract

Abstract : Background: Fc receptor‐like A (FCRLA) is a unique member of a family of Fc receptor like‐molecules that lacks a transmembrane region and is an ER‐resident protein. In mice and humans, FCRLA has been known as a B cell specific protein. We report here that, in humans, FCRLA is also expressed in a subpopulation of plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs). Methods: Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), splenocytes, and tonsillar cells were stained for lineage markers followed by fixation/saponin permeabilization and intracellular staining for FCRLA, and then analyzed by flow cytometry with CD123 and CD303 used as pDC markers. Results: We conducted an extensive flow cytometric analysis of a rare population of CD19‐FCRLA+ cells found for the first time in human lymphoid tissues that we assigned to pDCs as they were lin‐/CD123+/CD303+. FCRLA expression in human pDCs was further confirmed by the RT‐PCR analysis of cDNA of pDCs isolated from the peripheral blood of a healthy donor. FCRLA‐positive pDCs expressed a lower level of HLA‐DR than their FCRLA‐negative counterparts. Conclusions: FCRLA has long been viewed as a B cell specific protein, and this is the first time its expression has also been shown in human pDCs. © 2017 International Clinical Cytometry Society