title: Dendritic cells in humans--from fetus to adult.
abstract: The human immune system evolves continuously during development from the embryo into the adult, reflecting the ever-changing environment and demands of our body. This ability of our immune system to sense external cues and adapt as we develop is just as important in the early tolerogenic environment of the fetus, as it is in the constantly pathogen-challenged adult. Dendritic cells (DCs), the professional antigen-sensing and antigen-presenting components of the immune system, play a crucial role in this process where they act as sentinels, both initiating and regulating immune responses. Here, we provide an overview of the human immune system in the developing fetus and the adult, with a focus on DC ontogeny and function during these discrete but intimately linked life stages.
authors.affiliation: Singapore Immunology Network, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, 8A Biomedical Grove, IMMUNOS Building #3-4, BIOPOLIS, Singapore 138648, Singapore.
authors.forename: Naomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: McGovern
authors.forename: Jerry K Y
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Singapore Immunology Network, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, 8A Biomedical Grove, IMMUNOS Building #3-4, BIOPOLIS, Singapore 138648, Singapore Department of Reproductive Medicine, Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore 229899, Singapore florent_ginhoux@immunol.a-star.edu.sg.
authors.forename: Florent
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ginhoux
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017951:Antigen Presentation / Q000502:physiology*; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000276:immunology*; D005333:Fetus; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: adult; dendritic cell; fetus; function; ontogeny; subset