title: Plasmacytoid dendritic cells: in vivo regulators of alloimmune reactivity?
abstract: Dendritic cells (DC) exhibit remarkable plasticity in terms of their ability to induce and regulate innate and adaptive immune responses. Human and mouse interferon alpha-producing plasmacytoid (p) DC have been found to regulate allogeneic T cell responses in vitro. Evidence is emerging that pDC may also regulate immune reactivity in vivo, including the responses that underlie graft-versus-host disease and organ transplant rejection. These cells may also offer potential for therapy of adverse immune responses and the promotion of tolerance induction.
authors.affiliation: Thomas E Starzl Transplantation Institute and Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, PA 15213, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Colvin
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Thomson
mesh_terms: D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000637:transplantation*; D006650:Histocompatibility Testing; D006801:Humans; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome