title: The specialized roles of immature and mature dendritic cells in antigen cross-presentation.
abstract: Exogenous antigen cross-presentation is integral to the stimulation of cytotoxic T-lymphocytes against viruses and tumors. Central to this process are dendritic cells (DCs), which specialize in cross-presentation. DCs may be considered to exist in two radically different states of activation, generally referred to as immature and mature. In each of these states, the cell has a series of separate and specialized abilities for the induction of T-cell immunity. In the immature state, the DC is adept in surveying the periphery, acquiring and storing antigen, but has a limited capacity for direct T-cell activation. During a brief and defined window of time following DC stimulation, nearly every aspect of antigen handling changes, as it transitions from an entity focused on protein preservation to one capable of efficient cross-presentation. It is this time period and the underlying molecular mechanisms active here, which form the core of our studies on cross-presentation.
authors.affiliation: Program in Translational Immunology, Singapore Immunology Network, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 8A Biomedical Grove, #03 Immunos, Biopolis, Singapore.
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Hopkins
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Connolly
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology*; D045142:Cross-Priming / Q000276:immunology*; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D004705:Endocytosis; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D021381:Protein Transport; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers