title: Genetic dissection of dendritic cell homeostasis and function: lessons from cell type-specific gene ablation.
abstract: Dendritic cells (DCs) are a heterogeneous cell population of great importance in the immune system. The emergence of new genetic technology utilizing the CD11c promoter and Cre recombinase has facilitated the dissection of functional significance and molecular regulation of DCs in immune responses and homeostasis in vivo. For the first time, this strategy allows observation of the effects of DC-specific gene deletion on immune system function in an intact organism. In this review, we present the latest findings from studies using the Cre recombinase system for cell type-specific deletion of key molecules that mediate DC homeostasis and function. Our focus is on the molecular pathways that orchestrate DC life span, migration, antigen presentation, pattern recognition, and cytokine production and signaling.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN, 38105-3678, USA.
authors.forename: Peer W F
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Karmaus
authors.forename: Hongbo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chi
mesh_terms: D017951:Antigen Presentation; D017209:Apoptosis; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D017353:Gene Deletion; D019426:Integrases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D014157:Transcription Factors; C045073:Cre recombinase; D019426:Integrases