title: Transcriptional programming of the dendritic cell network.
abstract: Specialized subsets of dendritic cells (DCs) provide a crucial link between the innate and adaptive immune responses. The genetic programme that coordinates these distinct DC subsets is controlled by both cytokines and transcription factors. The initial steps in DC specification occur in the bone marrow and result in the generation of precursors committed to either the plasmacytoid or conventional DC pathways. DCs undergo further differentiation and lineage diversification in peripheral organs in response to local environmental cues. In this Review, we discuss new evidence regarding the coordination of the specification and commitment of precursor cells to different DC subsets and highlight the ensemble of transcription factors that control these processes.
authors.affiliation: Division of Molecular Immunology, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, 1G Royal Parade, Melbourne, Victoria 3052, Australia. belz@wehi.edu.au; nutt@wehi.edu.au
authors.forename: Gabrielle T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Belz
authors.forename: Stephen L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Nutt
mesh_terms: D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D053263:Gene Regulatory Networks / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D018448:Models, Immunological; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D014157:Transcription Factors