title: Dendritic cells and cytokines in human inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.
abstract: Dendritic cells (DCs) produce cytokines and are susceptible to cytokine-mediated activation. Thus, interaction of resting immature DCs with TLR ligands, for example nucleic acids, or with microbes leads to a cascade of pro-inflammatory cytokines and skewing of T cell responses. Conversely, several cytokines are able to trigger DC activation (maturation) via autocrine, for example TNF and plasmacytoid DCs, and paracrine, for example type I IFN and myeloid DCs, pathways. By controlling DC activation, cytokines regulate immune homeostasis and the balance between tolerance and immunity. The increased production and/or bioavailability of cytokines and associated alterations in DC homeostasis have been implicated in various human inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Targeting these cytokines with biological agents as already is the case with TNF and IL-1 represents a success of immunology and the coming years will expand the range of cytokines as therapeutic targets in autoinflammatory and autoimmune pathology.
authors.affiliation: CHU Bordeaux, 33076 Bordeaux, France. patrick.blanco@chu-bordeaux.fr
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Blanco
authors.forename: A Karolina
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Palucka
authors.forename: Virginia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pascual
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Banchereau
mesh_terms: D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000502:physiology*; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D024243:HMGB1 Protein / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000502:physiology; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology*; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000502:physiology; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000502:physiology; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000502:physiology; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000502:physiology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000502:physiology; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors / Q000187:drug effects; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D024243:HMGB1 Protein; D007370:Interferon Type I; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D007375:Interleukin-1; D015850:Interleukin-6; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D018664:Interleukin-12