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Dendritic cells: driving the differentiation programme of T cells in viral infections
Author(s) -
Masson Frederick,
Mount Adele M,
Wilson Nicholas S,
Belz Gabrielle T
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
immunology and cell biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.999
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1440-1711
pISSN - 0818-9641
DOI - 10.1038/icb.2008.15
Subject(s) - biology , immunology , microbiology and biotechnology , cd8 , cytotoxic t cell , effector , immunity , immune system , population , dendritic cell , antigen presentation , t cell , antigen presenting cell , medicine , genetics , environmental health , in vitro
Protective immunity against viral pathogens depends on the generation and maintenance of a small population of memory CD8 + T cells. Successful memory cell generation begins with early interactions between naïve T cell and dendritic cells (DCs) within the inflammatory milieu of the secondary lymphoid tissues. Recent insights into the role of different populations of DCs, and kinetics of antigen presentation, during viral infections have helped to understand how DCs can shape the immune response. Here, we review the recent progress that has been made towards defining how specific DC subsets drive effector CD8 + T‐cell expansion and differentiation into memory cells. Further, we endeavour to examine how the molecular signals imparted by DCs coordinate to generate protective CD8 + T‐cell immunity.