Dendritic cell regulation of immune responses: a new role for interleukin 2 at the intersection of innate and adaptive immunity.
Dendritic cells are professional antigen-presenting cells able to initiate innate and adaptive immune responses against invading pathogens. In response to external stimuli dendritic cells undergo a complete genetic reprogramming that allows them to become, soon after activation, natural killer cell activators and subsequently T cell stimulators. The recent observation that dendritic cells produce interleukin 2 following microbial stimulation opens new possibilities for understanding the efficiency of dendritic cells in regulating immune system functions. This review discusses how dendritic cells control natural killer, T- and B-cell responses and the relevance of interleukin 2 in these processes.
Granucci
Francesca
F
University of Milano-Bicocca, Department of Biotechnology and Bioscience, Milan, Italy.
Zanoni
Ivan
I
Feau
Sonia
S
Ricciardi-Castagnoli
Paola
P
D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002450:Cell Communication; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000502:physiology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D018448:Models, Immunological; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
D007376:Interleukin-2