Dendritic cells: the commanders-in-chief of mucosal immune defenses.

Full Abstract

PURPOSE

OF REVIEW:
Intestinal dendritic cells have emerged as key regulators of immunity to pathogens, oral tolerance and intestinal inflammation. Studies have begun to elucidate the regulatory mechanisms responsible for defining region- and compartment-specific phenotypes and functions of dendritic cells in mucosal tissues.

RECENT FINDINGS:
Specific subsets of dendritic cells appear to be associated with the various routes for antigen acquisition in the intestine. The constant sampling of intestinal antigenic content ensures establishment of tolerance to commensal bacteria and food antigens. Tolerance development to oral antigens is restricted to the mucosal immune system. Other advances have provided insight into the molecular basis of microbial recognition and innate immune responses by intestinal dendritic cells. Differences in the involvement of dendritic cells have begun to emerge in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis and link gene regulation in dendritic cells to therapeutic responses.

SUMMARY:
A major focus of mucosal immunology will be to understand how diverse dendritic cell subsets cooperate in regulating homeostasis and host defense in the different intestinal immune compartments. This will be pivotal to understanding how the mucosal immune system makes the distinction between commensal microbiota, pathogens and self antigens.

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Author information

Author/s: Niess, Jan H (JH); Reinecker, Hans-Christian (HC);

Affiliation: Gastrointestinal Unit and Center for the Study of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

Grants: DK33506 (Agency:NIDDK NIH HHS) ; DK68181 (Agency:NIDDK NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Review

Journal: Current opinion in gastroenterology (Curr Opin Gastroenterol), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-Jul; vol 22 (issue 4) : pp 354-60

Dates: Created 2006/06/08; Completed 2006/11/09; Revised 2007/11/14;

PMID: 16760749, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Animals
Dendritic Cells - immunology
Humans

Immunity, Cellular - immunology
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases - immunology; pathology
Intestinal Mucosa - immunology; pathology

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