Molecular biology and immunology for clinicians 16: Dendritic cells and their role in immunology.
As is so often the case in immunology, with the passage of time and further research, cells of obscure lineage and function become the darlings of the field. Such is the case with dendritic cells. Probably the most potent antigen-presenting cells of all, dendritic cells are pivotal in the education and coaching of T-cells, B-cells, and natural killer cells, putting the dendritic cell firmly in place to influence both innate and antigen-specific immune reactivity. Thus, understanding dendritic cells' function and how they switch morphologically and functionally during their maturation may be very important if we are to manipulate dendritic cells to suppress or enhance immunologic function in disease. There is sure to be more about dendritic cells in the oncology, clinical immunology, and rheumatology literature over the coming years as we learn to control dendritic cell function.
Sigal
Leonard H
LH
Division of Rheumatology and Connective Tissue Research, Department of Medicine, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey--Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08903, USA. sigallh@umdnj.edu