title: Plasmacytoid dendritic cells: in search of their niche in immune responses.
abstract: Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) have been associated with several names and functions over time, reflecting the limited availability of specific markers and their ability to produce large amounts of type I interferons, present antigens, as well as prime disparate T-cell helper responses. Yet, there is increasing evidence that pDCs are a distinct cell type in the innate immune system. This review highlights aspects in which pDCs are unique in comparison to other antigen-presenting cells in regulating innate and adaptive immune responses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
authors.forename: Winfried
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Barchet
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Blasius
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cella
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Colonna
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051379:Mice; D018448:Models, Immunological; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors / Q000378:metabolism; D014780:Viruses / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007370:Interferon Type I; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors