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Langerin‐expressing dendritic cells in gut‐associated lymphoid tissues
Author(s) -
Chang SunYoung,
Kweon MiNa
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
immunological reviews
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.839
H-Index - 223
eISSN - 1600-065X
pISSN - 0105-2896
DOI - 10.1111/j.0105-2896.2009.00878.x
Subject(s) - langerin , immunology , biology , immune system , lymphatic system , c type lectin , follicular dendritic cells , dendritic cell , mesenteric lymph nodes , antigen , antigen presenting cell , cd8 , cd40 , t cell , cytotoxic t cell , in vitro , genetics
Summary: Dendritic cells (DCs) are key regulators of the immune system. They act as professional antigen‐presenting cells and are capable of activating naive T cells and stimulating the growth and differentiation of B cells. According to their molecular expression, DCs can be divided into several subsets with different functions. We focus on DC subsets expressing langerin, a C‐type lectin. Langerin expression is predominant in skin DCs, but langerin‐expressing DCs also exist in mucosal tissue and can be induced by immunization and sometimes by nutrient deficiency. Topical transcutaneous immunization induces langerin + CD8α − DCs in mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs), which mediate the production of antigen‐specific immunoglobulin A antibody in the intestine. Yet, in one recent study, langerin + DCs were generated in gut‐associated lymphoid tissue and contributed to the suppressive intestinal immune environment in the absence of retinoic acid. In this review, we focus on the phenotypic and functional characteristics of langerin + DCs in the mucosal tissues, especially MLNs.