title: Molecular characterization of human plasmacytoid dendritic cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) represent a unique and important immune cell population capable of producing large quantifies of type I interferon (IFN) in response to viruses as well as nucleic acid-containing complexes from the host. These rare and mysterious cells have been revealed by in-depth molecular characterization. Several innate sensors and signaling molecules enriched in pDCs allow their specialized innate immune functions. In addition, human pDCs use a group of surface receptors that, through activation of a B-cell receptor (BCR)-like signaling pathway, modulate type I IFN responses. It is clear now that pDC development is influenced by distinctive transcription factors that specify a unique lineage. CD4(+)CD56(+) hematodermic neoplasm of human pDC origin has been revealed in explicit molecular terms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A detailed molecular description of pDCs helps us better define, understand, and track human pDCs in relation to their functions and physiological involvement.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Unit 901, 7455 Fannin, The University of Texas M D Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA. wcao@mdacc.tmc.edu
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017951:Antigen Presentation / Q000276:immunology; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis; D019002:CD56 Antigen / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D015533:Transcriptional Activation
chemical_list: D015704:CD4 Antigens; D019002:CD56 Antigen; D007370:Interferon Type I; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors