Identification and isolation of rodent lung dendritic cells

Dendritic cells (DC) are a trace cell population found in most tissues that display potent antigen acquisition and presentation capabilities and are unique among antigen-presenting-cell types in their ability to activate unprimed T cells (1). DC are particularly prominent at the mucosal surfaces of the lung and gastrointestinal tract, where they are thought to play a critical role in the regulation of immune responses to environmental antigens (2-4).