title: Maturation requirements for dendritic cells in T cell stimulation leading to tolerance versus immunity.
abstract: The model that dendritic cell (DC) "maturation" describes the change from an immature, antigen-capturing cell to a mature, antigen-presenting cell is well-established. Classification of DCs in terms of function has been problematic previously. It is therefore proposed that mature and not immature DCs are responsible for antigen presentation and stimulation of T cells. Furthermore, DC antigen presentation to T cells can have two outcomes: tolerance or immunity. The particular outcomes appear to be determined by the activation state of the mature DC. DCs can be activated by a range of environmental stimuli or "danger signals". Here, the hypothesis is advanced that activated, mature DCs induce T cell immunity, and resting, nonactivated but fully differentiated mature antigen-presenting DCs can induce tolerance. This proposal extends to conventional DCs and plasmacytoid DCs. The paper also concentrates on the spleen as a site for DC maturation, in light of evidence from this laboratory for differentiation of DCs from splenic precursors in long-term, stroma-dependent cultures. The hypothesis advanced here serves to simplify many current issues regarding DC maturation and function.
authors.affiliation: School of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia.
authors.forename: Jonathan K H
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Helen C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: O'Neill
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017951:Antigen Presentation / Q000276:immunology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*