title: Dendritic cells, antigen distribution and the initiation of primary immune responses to self and non-self antigens.
abstract: Immunity or tolerance are determined through the bone marrow-derived, antigen-presenting cells, dendritic cells (DC). Stimulation of lymphocytes by different types of DC, DC at different stages of maturity and DC producing and responding to different growth factors modulate immune responses. Innate receptors for foreign or self antigens provide scope in DC for discrimination between different antigenic stimuli. DC also transfer processed antigens to other DC. We propose that DC do not stimulate responses to antigens in their own environment but only to antigens acquired from other DC, providing a mechanism for discriminating between environmental and non-environmental antigens.
authors.affiliation: Antigen Presentation Research Group, Northwick Park Institute for Medical Research, Imperial College Faculty of Medicine, Watford Rd., Harrow HA1 3UJ, UK. s.knight@ic.ac.uk
authors.forename: Stella C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Knight
authors.forename: Fiona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Burke
authors.forename: Penelope A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Bedford
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017951:Antigen Presentation / Q000276:immunology; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000502:physiology; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology; D017634:Self Tolerance / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens