title: Dendritic cells and the maintenance of self-tolerance.
abstract: Dendritic cells (DC) play important roles in the initiation of immune responses and in the maintenance of self-tolerance. We have been studying the role of DC in the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes and exploring the ability of specific DC subsets to prevent diabetes in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice. DC presenting low doses of antigen are capable of inducing and expanding T-regulatory (Treg) cells that have potent suppressive function. We review here our recent findings in this area and highlight the ability of semi-mature therapeutic DC to induce Treg expansion in the absence of exogenous antigen. We discuss how the presentation of endogenous self-antigen by DC may represent a natural mechanism for peripheral self-tolerance that can be harnessed to prevent autoimmunity.
authors: Departments of Immunology and Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, 200 Lothrop Street, BST E1048, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA. morel@pitt.edu
authors: Penelope A
authors: PA
authors: Morel
authors: Michael S
authors: MS
authors: Turner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017951:Antigen Presentation / Q000276:immunology; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000276:immunology; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D017634:Self Tolerance / Q000276:immunology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D001324:Autoantigens