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Dendritic cells in Th2 immune responses and allergic sensitization
Author(s) -
Lamiable Olivier,
Mayer Johannes U,
MunozErazo Luis,
Ronchese Franca
Publication year - 2020
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 - 10.1111/imcb.12387
Subject(s) - immune system , immunology , antigen presenting cell , effector , dendritic cell , biology , context (archaeology) , antigen , microbiology and biotechnology , antigen presentation , t cell , paleontology
Allergic responses are characterized by the activation of a specific subset of effector CD4 + T cells, the T‐helper type 2 (Th2) cells, that respond to harmless environmental antigens causing inflammation and pathology. Th2 cells are also found in the context of parasite infections, where they can mediate parasite clearance and expulsion, and support tissue repair. The process that leads to the activation of Th2 cells in vivo is incompletely understood: while it has become clear that “conventional” dendritic cells are essential antigen‐presenting cells for the initiation of Th2 immune responses, the molecules that are expressed by dendritic cells exposed to allergens, and the mediators that are produced as a consequence and signal to naïve CD4 + T cells to promote their development into effector Th2, remain to be defined. Here we summarize recent developments in the identification of the dendritic cell subsets involved in Th2 responses, review potential mechanisms proposed to explain the generation of these immune responses, and discuss the direct and indirect signals that condition dendritic cells to drive the development of Th2 responses during allergen or parasite exposure.