Immune activation: death, danger and dendritic cells.
Dendritic cells are critical for host immunity, and sense microbes with pathogen recognition receptors. New evidence indicates that these cells also sense uric acid crystals in dead cells, suggesting that the immune system is conscious not only of pathogens, but also of death and danger.
Pulendran
Bali
B
Emory Vaccine Center, 954 Gatewood Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30329, USA. bpulend@rmy.emory.edu
D016923:Cell Death / Q000276:immunology; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D018448:Models, Immunological; D017634:Self Tolerance / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*
D014527:Uric Acid