Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 16, 2026

Study of Dendritic Cell Development by Short Hairpin RNA-Mediated Gene Knockdown in a Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cell Line In vitro
Published on: March 7, 2022
Plasmacytoid dendritic cells: key players in the initiation and regulation of immune responses
Roberto Lande1, Michel Gilliet
1Department of Immunology, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
Abstract:
Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) are a rare population of circulating cells that selectively express Toll-like receptors (TLR)7 and TLR9 and have the capacity to produce large amounts of type I interferons (IFNs) in response to viruses or host-derived nucleic acid-containing complexes. Through the production of type I IFNs, pDCs initiate protective immunity by activating classical DCs, T cells, natural killer cells, and B cells. Upon activation, pDCs also differentiate into mature DCs and may contribute to the contraction of T-cell responses. In this review, we describe how pDCs are key players in the initiation and regulation of immune responses and discuss their emerging role in the pathogenesis of human diseases.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
T Cell Activation and Clonal Selection
Naive T cells that have not yet encountered an antigen express two primary CD...
T Cell Types and Functions
Th1 cells stimulate dendritic cells to express necessary co-stimulatory molecules on their surfaces for...
Cell-mediated Immune Responses
Antigen Presenting Cells
T cells require the help of antigen-presenting cells (APCs), which process foreign antigens into smaller fragments that can be recognized by T cells. These APCs are highly specialized cells that efficiently internalize antigens...
B Cell Activation and Differentiation
When naive B cells encounter a specific antigen that can bind to the B cell receptor (BCR) on their surface, they undergo sensitization to respond to the antigen's presence. Sensitization begins with...
Immune Response Against Viral Pathogens
NK Cells
NK cells are a crucial part of our innate immune system, acting as the first line of defense against viral infections. These cells can recognize and kill infected cells without prior exposure to the virus, effectively slowing down the spread of infection. Additionally, NK cells produce proinflammatory...

