title: Comparative genomics as a tool to reveal functional equivalences between human and mouse dendritic cell subsets.
abstract: During evolution, vertebrates have developed an adaptive immune system able to cope with a variety of pathogens. Dendritic cells (DCs) are central to this process. DCs integrate information derived from pathogens or endogenous danger signals and convey them to T lymphocytes. Most of the present knowledge on DCs was generated in mice or by using human DCs differentiated in vitro from monocytes. In both species, several DC subsets have been identified in vivo based on differences in their phenotypes, anatomical locations or functions. In mice, protective immunity against intracellular pathogens or tumors can be induced most efficiently by targeting antigens to the CD8 alpha(+) DCs, a subset of DCs which resides in lymphoid tissues and is especially efficient at cross-presenting exogenous antigens to CD8(+) T lymphocytes. In contrary, harnessing human DC subsets for medical purposes is currently hampered by insufficient knowledge about these cells. To overcome this cognitive gap, we are using comparative genomics as a tool for designing hypotheses and experiments to further characterize DC subset functions and their molecular control, including the investigation of the functional equivalences that might exist between human and mouse DC subsets.
authors.affiliation: Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Université de la Méditerranée, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Karine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Crozat
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Guiton
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guilliams
authors.forename: Sandrine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Henri
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Baranek
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Schwartz-Cornil
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Malissen
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dalod
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018949:Antigens, CD1; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000276:immunology; D039481:CD11b Antigen / Q000276:immunology; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D019070:Cell Lineage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D023281:Genomics / Q000379:methods; D006023:Glycoproteins; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D010641:Phenotype; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D018949:Antigens, CD1; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D039481:CD11b Antigen; C437944:CD1C protein, human; D016827:CD8 Antigens; C409469:CD8 antigen, alpha chain; D006023:Glycoproteins