The instructive role of dendritic cells on T-cell responses.
Immune responses are initiated in the T-cell areas of secondary lymphoid organs where naïve T lymphocytes encounter dendritic cells (DCs) that present antigens taken up in peripheral tissues. DCs represent the interface between the universe of foreign and tissue-specific antigens and T lymphocytes, and they are the key players in the regulation of cell-mediated immunity. We discuss how the nature of the DC maturation stimuli and the density and quality of DCs present in the T-cell areas of secondary lymphoid organs determine the magnitude and class of the T-cell response.
Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Bellinzona, Switzerland.
Federica
F
Sallusto
Antonio
A
Lanzavecchia
D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000276:immunology*; D007156:Immunologic Memory / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*