title: Dendritic cells in the pathogenesis and treatment of human diseases: a Janus Bifrons?
abstract: Dendritic cells (DCs) represent the bridging cell compartment between a variety of nonself antigens (i.e., microbial, cancer and vaccine antigens) and adaptive immunity, orchestrating the quality and potency of downstream immune responses. Because of the central role of DCs in the generation and regulation of immunity, the modulation of DC function in order to shape immune responses is gaining momentum. In this respect, recent advances in understanding DC biology, as well as the required molecular signals for induction of T-cell immunity, have spurred many experimental strategies to use DCs for therapeutic immunological approaches for infections and cancer. However, when DCs lose control over such 'protective' responses - by alterations in their number, phenotype and/or function - undesired effects leading to allergy and autoimmune clinical manifestations may occur. Novel therapeutic approaches have been designed and currently evaluated in order to address DCs and silence these immunopathological processes. In this article we present recent concepts of DC biology and some medical implications in view of therapeutic opportunities.
authors: Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute (Vaxinfectio), University of Antwerp, B-2610 Wilrijk, Belgium.
authors: Nathalie
authors: N
authors: Cools
authors: Annacarmen
authors: A
authors: Petrizzo
authors: Evelien
authors: E
authors: Smits
authors: Franco M
authors: FM
authors: Buonaguro
authors: Maria L
authors: ML
authors: Tornesello
authors: Zwi
authors: Z
authors: Berneman
authors: Luigi
authors: L
authors: Buonaguro
mesh_terms: D056704:Adaptive Immunity; D000818:Animals; D017951:Antigen Presentation; D015551:Autoimmunity; D019496:Cancer Vaccines; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology*; D007167:Immunotherapy; D007239:Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D019496:Cancer Vaccines