Dendritic cells and the control of immunity.
Banchereau, Jacques; Steinman, Ralph M.
[Article]
Nature.
392(6673):245-252, March 19, 1998.
(Format: HTML)
B and T lymphocytes are the mediators of immunity, but their function is under the control of dendritic cells.Dendritic cells in the periphery capture and process antigens, express lymphocyte co-stimulatory molecules, migrate to lymphoid organs and secrete cytokines to initiate immune responses. They not only activate lymphocytes, they also tolerize T cells to antigens that are innate to the body (self-antigens), thereby minimizing autoimmune reactions. Once a neglected cell type, dendritic cells can now be readily obtained in sufficient quantities to allow molecular and cell biological analysis. With knowledge comes the realization that these cells are a powerful tool for manipulating the immune system.
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