Dendritic Cells in the Tumor Microenvironment

Karan Kohli1, Venu G Pillarisetty2

  • 1Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA.

Dendritic cells (DCs) are professional antigen-presenting cells (APCs) of the immune system. They capture foreign antigens and can present them to lymphocytes, that is, T cells and B cells, to activate them. DCs are the most potent of all immune cells at inducing the adaptive immune system. Thus, the presence of DCs at the anatomical site of the immune challenge is imperative for the immune system to mount an effective immune response. From the anatomical site of the immune challenge, DCs cargo antigens to the draining lymph nodes, specialized immune organs where adaptive immunity is generated. DCs are heterogeneous as a type of immune cell, and various subsets of DCs have been reported and their functions described. In this chapter, we discuss various aspects of DC development and function. We further discuss how various tumor microenvironments can affect DC development, function, and migration, thus evading a strong adaptive immune response.

Related Concept Videos

The Tumor Microenvironment02:17

The Tumor Microenvironment

Every normal cell or tissue is embedded in a complex local environment called stroma, consisting of different cell types, a basal membrane, and blood vessels. As normal cells mutate and develop into cancer cells, their local environment also changes to allow cancer progression. The tumor microenvironment (TME) consists of a complex cellular matrix of stromal cells and the developing tumor. The cross-talk between cancer cells and surrounding stromal cells is critical to disrupt normal tissue...
7.4K
Tumor Immunotherapy01:27

Tumor Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a treatment that boosts or manipulates the immune system to fight diseases, including cancer. For instance, by stimulating an immune response through vaccinations against viruses that cause cancers, like hepatitis B virus and human papillomavirus, these diseases can be prevented. Nonetheless, some cancer cells can avoid the immune system due to their rapid mutation and division. The immune response to many cancers involves three phases: elimination, equilibrium, and escape.
1.1K
Cancer Stem Cells and Tumor Maintenance02:40

Cancer Stem Cells and Tumor Maintenance

Early diagnosis and treatment can often cure cancer. However, even with treatment, residual cells called cancer stem cells (CSC) might remain, often causing tumor recurrence. These cancer stem cells possess the potential for self-renewal and multi-lineage differentiation and are often responsible for the therapeutic resistance displayed in most cancers.
Cancer stem cells are thought to originate from tissue-specific normal stem cells or progenitor cells. The normal stem cells usually reside in...
5.6K
Antigen Presenting Cells01:22

Antigen Presenting Cells

The immune system is a complex network of cells and molecules that protects the body from foreign invaders. T cells, a type of white blood cell, play a crucial role in this process. They recognize and attack foreign substances, such as pathogens, that enter the body.
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...
2.6K