title: Heterogeneity of thymic dendritic cells.
abstract: Thymus is the site of generation and selection of T-lymphocytes. It also contains phenotypically and functionally distinct dendritic cell (DC) populations, including conventional DC (cDC) and plasmacytoid DC (pDC). Thymic cDC are heterogeneous and contain two subsets: a major subset derived from the precursors within thymus, and a minor subset presumably of extrathymic origin. Increasing evidence suggest that thymic cDC can cross-present self-antigens to developing thymocytes and play an important role in thymocyte negative selection and central tolerance induction. Thymic pDC can produce type-I interferon upon appropriate activation. However, their role in a steady state thymus is currently unclear.
authors.affiliation: The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, 1G, Royal Parade, Parkville, Vic. 3050, Australia. wu@wehi.edu.au
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shortman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000145:classification / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines