title: Plasmacytoid dendritic cells: one-trick ponies or workhorses of the immune system?
abstract: Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) were first described as interferon-producing cells and, for many years, their overlapping characteristics with both lymphocytes and classical dendritic cells (cDCs) created confusion over their exact ontogeny. In this Viewpoint article, Nature Reviews Immunology asks five leaders in the field to discuss their thoughts on the development and functions of pDCs--do these cells serve mainly as a major source of type I interferons or do they also make other important contributions to immune responses?
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University, 701 W. 168th St., New York, New York 10032, USA. bvr2101@columbia.edu
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Reizis
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Colonna
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Trinchieri
authors.forename: Franck
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Barrat
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gilliet
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017951:Antigen Presentation / Q000276:immunology; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000276:immunology; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000378:metabolism; D007938:Leukemia / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D051379:Mice; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D051199:Toll-Like Receptor 7 / Q000378:metabolism; D051217:Toll-Like Receptor 9 / Q000378:metabolism; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D007370:Interferon Type I; D051199:Toll-Like Receptor 7; D051217:Toll-Like Receptor 9