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Updated: May 13, 2026

Assessing the Development of Murine Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells in Peyer's Patches Using Adoptive Transfer of Hematopoietic Progenitors
Published on: March 17, 2014
Plasmacytoid dendritic cells: key players in viral infections and autoimmune diseases
Karina Santana-de Anda1, Diana Gómez-Martín, Rodrigo Soto-Solís
1Department of Immunology and Rheumatology, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Tlalpan, Mexico City, Mexico.
Objective:
Describe the main activation and inhibitory pathways and receptors by which pDC regulate type I interferon secretion, as well as its association with autoimmune pathology.
Methods:
A PubMed search for articles was conducted using the following key words: plasmacytoid dendritic cells, autoimmune diseases, viral infections and type I interferon. The search was limited to publications in English and from 1957 to 2012. Sixty-five of these articles are included in this review. The most relevant primary research articles identified were critically evaluated and compiled together. Particularly, areas of consensus and controversy were identified and analyzed.
Results:
Plasmacytoid dendritic cells have been closely related to viral infections and autoimmune disease, mainly because of these immune cells are able to secrete large amounts of type I interferon. This function is linked with their expression of Toll-like receptors, specially TLR7 and TLR9, which are designed to sense nucleic acids in the early endosomes. Activated pDC can promote immunity and autoimmunity, however, the exact mechanisms by which pDC promote one vs. the other are not well understood.
Conclusions:
Plasmacytoid dendritic cells play a key role in both, immunity and autoimmunity. Current evidence suggests that the sustained overproduction of type-I interferon drives aberrant immune responses and the development of autoimmune pathology.
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