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Development and Functional Characterization of Murine Tolerogenic Dendritic Cells
Published on: May 18, 2018
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Development, Diversity, and Function of Dendritic Cells in Mouse and Human
David A Anderson1, Kenneth M Murphy1,2, Carlos G Briseño1
1Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University in St. Louis, School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110.
Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology
|October 1, 2017
Summary
This review explores dendritic cell (DC) development and function in mice and humans. It highlights conserved mechanisms and identifies key transcription factors for classical DC subsets (cDC1, cDC2) and plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs).
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Murine dendritic cell (DC) development research has identified specialized DC subsets.
- Advances have enabled the identification of human DC counterparts with conserved development and function.
- Transcription factors orchestrate the development of classical DCs (cDCs) and plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs).
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current understanding of mouse and human dendritic cell development and function.
- To highlight conserved mechanisms between murine and human DC development.
- To identify unresolved areas in the field of DC biology.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on murine and human dendritic cell development.
- Analysis of transcription factor roles in DC subset specification.
- Examination of functional studies in mouse models of DC deficiency.
Main Results:
- Plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs) are key producers of type I interferons, crucial for antiviral and antitumor immunity.
- cDC1s are vital for cross-presentation of antigens, important for responses to intracellular pathogens, viruses, and cancer.
- cDC2 subsets are involved in T helper (Th)2 and Th17 responses, though no single factor is essential for their complete development.
Conclusions:
- Dendritic cell development and function show conserved mechanisms between mice and humans.
- Specific transcription factors are critical for the development of distinct DC subsets like cDC1s and pDCs.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the factors governing cDC2 development and function.
