title: Immunobiology of liver dendritic cells.
abstract: Dendritic cells (DC) are rare, bone marrow-derived antigen-presenting cells that play a critical role in the induction and regulation of immune reactivity. In this article, we review the identification and characterization of liver DC, their ontogenic development, in vivo mobilization and population dynamics. In addition, we discuss the functions of DC isolated from liver tissue or celiac lymph, or propagated in vitro from liver-resident haemopoietic stem/progenitor cells. Evidence concerning the role of DC in viral hepatitis, liver tumours, autoimmune liver diseases, granulomatous inflammation and the outcome of liver transplantation is also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Thomas E Starzl Transplantation Institute and Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. thomsonaw@msx.upmc.edu
authors.forename: Angus W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Thomson
authors.forename: Peta J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: O'Connell
authors.forename: Raymond J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Steptoe
authors.forename: Lina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D008565:Membrane Proteins; C084881:flt3 ligand protein