Dendritic cell development: multiple pathways to nature's adjuvants.
Dendritic cells are a system of bone marrow-derived antigen-presenting cells specialized for interaction with T lymphocytes and essential for initiating primary T cell immune responses. Recent investigation indicates that dendritic cells are of diverse origin, with at least two types of myeloid precursors and a lymphoid precursor implicated in their generation. Mature dendritic cell subtypes, while sharing the capacity to activate T cells, show additional functional specialization. Some dendritic cells are equipped with additional mechanisms to regulate the response of the T cells they activate, while others are able to interact with B cells and modify B cell responses.
Shortman
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Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Caux
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D000818:Animals; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000166:cytology; D008954:Models, Biological; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology