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Functional modulation of dendritic cells to suppress adaptive immune responses
Author(s) -
Woltman Andrea M.,
Kooten Cees
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of leukocyte biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.819
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1938-3673
pISSN - 0741-5400
DOI - 10.1189/jlb.0902431
Subject(s) - immune system , biology , immunology , dendritic cell , microbiology and biotechnology , acquired immune system , immune modulation
In recent years, dendritic cells (DCs) have entered the center court of immune regulation. Dependent on their ontogeny, state of differentiation, and maturation and thereby a variable expression of membrane‐bound and soluble molecules, DCs can induce immunostimulatory as well as immunoregulatory responses. This dual function has made them potential targets in vaccine development in cancer and infections as well as for the prevention and treatment of allograft rejection and autoimmune diseases. The present review is focused on the effect of immune‐modulatory factors, such as cytokines and immunosuppressive drugs, and on the survival, differentiation, migration, and maturation of DC human subsets. A better understanding of DC immunobiology may lead to the development of specific therapies to prevent or dampen immune responses.