title: Antibody Targeting of "Steady-State" Dendritic Cells Induces Tolerance Mediated by Regulatory T Cells.
abstract: Dendritic cells (DCs) are often defined as pivotal inducers of immunity, but these proinflammatory properties only develop after stimulation or ex vivo manipulation of DCs. Under non-inflammatory conditions in vivo, DCs are embedded into a tissue environment and encounter a plethora of self-antigens derived from apoptotic material. This material is transported to secondary lymphoid organs. As DCs maintain their non-activated phenotype in a sterile tissue environment, interaction with T cells will induce rather regulatory T cells than effector T cells. Thus, DCs are not only inducers of immunity but are also critical for maintenance of peripheral tolerance. Therapeutically, intervention for the induction of long-lasting tolerance in several autoimmune conditions may therefore be possible by manipulating DC activation and/or targeting of DCs in their "natural" tissue environment.
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Heidelberg, University of Heidelberg , Heidelberg , Germany.
authors.forename: Karsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mahnke
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Heidelberg, University of Heidelberg , Heidelberg , Germany.
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ring
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Heidelberg, University of Heidelberg , Heidelberg , Germany.
authors.forename: Alexander H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Enk
keywords: DEC205; antibody targeting; dendritic cells; regulatory T cells; tolerance