Yolk sac macrophage progenitors traffic to the embryo during defined stages of development

C. Stremmel, R. Schuchert, F. Wagner, R. Thaler, T. Weinberger, R. Pick, E. Mass, H. C. Ishikawa-Ankerhold, A. Margraf, S. Hutter, R. Vagnozzi, S. Klapproth, J. Frampton, S. Yona, C. Scheiermann, J. D. Molkentin, U. Jeschke, M. Moser, M. Sperandio, S. MassbergF. Geissmann, C. Schulz*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

181 Scopus citations

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 languageEnglish
Article number75
JournalNature Communications
Volume9
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Dec 2018
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 The Author(s).

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