Premium
The impact of circulating dendritic cells on the development and differentiation of thymocytes
Author(s) -
Proietto Anna I,
Dommelen Serani,
Wu Li
Publication year - 2009
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.2008.86
Subject(s) - cd8 , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , immunology , negative selection , cytotoxic t cell , thymocyte , immune system , in vitro , gene , genetics , genome
Central tolerance is established through the negative selection of self‐reactive thymocytes and the induction of T‐regulatory cells (T‐regs). A role for thymic epithelial cells in mediating both negative selection and T‐reg induction has been clearly shown. The role of thymic dendritic cells (DCs) in these processes has not been clearly determined but has been the focus of recent studies. Thymic DCs include two conventional DC (cDC) subtypes, CD8 lo Sirpα hi/+ (CD8 lo Sirpα + herein) and CD8 hi Sirpα lo/− (CD8 hi Sirpα − herein). It has been shown that these DC subsets have distinct developmental origins, the CD8 hi Sirpα − cDCs developing intra‐thymically and the CD8 lo Sirpα + migrating into the thymus from the periphery. Furthermore, an important role for thymic DCs in the induction of T‐regs has been shown. In this review, the role of DCs in the development and education of T cells in the thymus will be reviewed, with emphasis on the role of circulatory DCs in mediating these processes.