Histological analysis of CD11c-DTR/GFP mice after in vivo depletion of dendritic cells

To investigate the dependence of individual immunological processes on DC, a transgenic mouse system (CD11c-DTR/GFP mice) has been developed that allows conditional depletion of CD11c(+) DC in vivo through administration of diphtheria toxin. We have performed careful histological analysis of CD11c-DTR/ GFP mice at different time points after diphtheria toxin injection and confirmed the transient depletion of CD11c(+) cells from lymph nodes and spleen. Unexpectedly, the injection of diphtheria toxin completely depleted marginal zone and metallophilic M Phi from the spleen and their sinusoidal counterparts from the lymph nodes. This finding limits the use of CD11c-DTR/ GFP mice for the analysis of the role of DC to models and read outs that are proven to be independent of marginal zone and sinusoidal M Phi.