title: Dendritic cells: sentinels against pathogens.
abstract: Dendritic cells (DCs) are the most potent antigen-presenting cells, and are regarded as "natural adjuvants" for the induction of primary T or T-dependent immunity. DCs in the peripheral sites capture and process antigens. Encounter of exogenous or endogenous stimuli mature the function of DCs, and they thus acquire T-cell stimulatory capacity and distinct chemotactic behavior which enables them to migrate to lymphoid tissue. In the secondary lymphoid organs, they present antigens to T- and B-cells and stimulate their proliferation. Dendritic cells are also involved in tolerance induction, in particular, to self antigens. DCs also play a key role in the transmission of many pathogens, and therefore may become targets for designing new therapies. DCs have been manipulated in vitro and in vivo for cancer immunotherapy. In this article, we provide a concise overview of DC biology and its current and future role in clinical settings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong Medical Center, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: N P-Y
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Vera S F
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: P K H
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Tam
authors.forename: C-L S
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017951:Antigen Presentation; D002455:Cell Division; D002465:Cell Movement; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007167:Immunotherapy; D008954:Models, Biological; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism