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Acquitting an APC: DCs found "not guilty" after trial by ablation
Burkhard Becher1, Melanie Greter
1Institute of Experimental Immunology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. becher@immunology.uzh.ch
European Journal of Immunology
|October 9, 2012
Summary
Dendritic cells (DCs) are traditionally viewed as essential for initiating T-cell responses. However, new research using mouse models challenges this dogma, suggesting DCs may not be mandatory for autoimmune T-cell priming.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Dendritic cells (DCs) are widely recognized as the most potent antigen-presenting cells (APCs) for T-cell priming.
- This established concept is being questioned by studies involving genetically modified mice with ablated DCs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of DCs in T-cell mediated autoimmune responses.
- To critically evaluate the necessity of DCs as APCs for autoimmune T-cell priming.
Main Methods:
- Utilized genetically engineered mice where CD11c(hi) cells (a marker for DCs) were ablated by diphtheria toxin injection in vivo.
- Induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in these mice to assess autoimmune responses.
Main Results:
- Mice with ablated CD11c(hi) cells remained fully susceptible to EAE.
- This finding challenges the established view that DCs are mandatory for priming autoimmune T helper (T(H)) cells.
Conclusions:
- The study questions the indispensable role of DCs in initiating T-cell mediated autoimmune responses.
- Further analysis is needed to reconcile these findings with existing evidence and redefine the role of DCs in immune responses.
