Dendritic cell

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  (Redirected from Myeloid dendritic cells)
Jump to: navigation, search
Dendritic cell
Dendritic cells.jpg
Dendritic cells in skin
Dendritic cell revealed.jpg
Artistic rendering of the surface of a human dendritic cell illustrating sheet-like processes that fold back onto the membrane surface. When exposed to HIV, these sheets entrap viruses in the vicinity and focus them to contact zones with T cells targeted for infection. These studies were carried out using ion abrasion scanning electron microscopy, a new technology the NIH has been developing and applying for 3D cellular imaging. Source: Sriram Subramaniam, National Cancer Institute (NCI).
Latin cellula dendritiformis
System Immune system
TH H1.
Anatomical terminology

Dendritic cells (DCs) are antigen-presenting cells (also known as accessory cells) of the mammalian immune system. Their main function is to process antigen material and present it on the cell surface to the T cells of the immune system. They act as messengers between the innate and the adaptive immune systems.

Dendritic cells are present in those tissues that are in contact with the external environment, such as the skin (where there is a specialized dendritic cell type called the Langerhans cell) and the inner lining of the nose, lungs, stomach and intestines. They can also be found in an immature state in the blood. Once activated, they migrate to the lymph nodes where they interact with T cells and B cells to initiate and shape the adaptive immune response. At certain development stages they grow branched projections, the dendrites that give the cell its name (δένδρον or déndron being Greek for "tree"). While similar in appearance, these are structures distinct from the dendrites of neurons. Immature dendritic cells are also called veiled cells, as they possess large cytoplasmic 'veils' rather than dendrites.


Dendritic cells were first described by Paul Langerhans (hence "Langerhans cells") in the late nineteenth century. The term "dendritic cells" was coined in 1973 by Ralph M. Steinman and Zanvil A. Cohn.[1] For discovering the central role of dendritic cells in the adaptive immune response,[2] Steinman was awarded the Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research in 2007[3] and the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2011.[4]

Types of dendritic cells[edit]

As in all dendritic cells, their particular morphology results in a very large contact surface to their surroundings compared to overall cell volume.

In vivo – primate[edit]

The most common division of dendritic cells is "myeloid" vs. "plasmacytoid":

Name Description Secretion Toll-like receptors[5]
Conventional dendritic cell (previously called Myeloid dendritic cell) (cDC or mDC) Most similar to monocytes. mDC are made up of at least two subsets:
Interleukin 12 (IL-12) TLR 2, TLR 4
Plasmacytoid dendritic cell (pDC) Look like plasma cells, but have certain characteristics similar to myeloid dendritic cells.[6] Can produce high amounts of interferon-alpha[7] and were previously called interferon-producing cells.[8] TLR 7, TLR 9

The markers BDCA-2, BDCA-3, and BDCA-4 can be used to discriminate among the types.[9]

Lymphoid and myeloid DCs evolve from lymphoid and myeloid precursors, respectively, and thus are of hematopoietic origin. By contrast, follicular dendritic cells (FDC) are probably of mesenchymal rather than hematopoietic origin and do not express MHC class II, but are so named because they are located in lymphoid follicles and have long "dendritic" processes.

Dendritic cells in blood[edit]

The blood DCs are typically identified and enumerated in flow cytometry. Three types of DCs have been defined in human blood: the CD1c+ myeloid DCs, the CD141+ myeloid DCs and the CD303+ plasmacytoid DCs. This represents the nomenclature proposed by the nomenclature committee of the International Union of Immunological Societies.[10] Dendritic cells that circulate in blood do not have all the typical features of their counterparts in tissue, i.e. they are less mature and have no dendrites. Still, they can perform complex functions including chemokine-production (in CD1c+ myeloid DCs), cross-presentation (in CD141+ myeloid DCs), and IFNalpha production (in CD303+ plasmacytoid DCs).

In vitro[edit]

In some respects, dendritic cells cultured in vitro do not show the same behaviour or capability as dendritic cells isolated ex vivo. Nonetheless, they are often used for research as they are still much more readily available than genuine DCs.


While humans and non-human primates such as rhesus macaques appear to have DCs divided into these groups, other species (such as the mouse) have different subdivisions of DCs.

Life cycle[edit]

Formation of immature cells and their maturation[edit]

Dendritic cells are derived from hematopoietic bone marrow progenitor cells. These progenitor cells initially transform into immature dendritic cells. These cells are characterized by high endocytic activity and low T-cell activation potential. Immature dendritic cells constantly sample the surrounding environment for pathogens such as viruses and bacteria. This is done through pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) such as the toll-like receptors (TLRs). TLRs recognize specific chemical signatures found on subsets of pathogens. Immature dendritic cells may also phagocytize small quantities of membrane from live own cells, in a process called nibbling. Once they have come into contact with a presentable antigen, they become activated into mature dendritic cells and begin to migrate to the lymph node. Immature dendritic cells phagocytose pathogens and degrade their proteins into small pieces and upon maturation present those fragments at their cell surface using MHC molecules. Simultaneously, they upregulate cell-surface receptors that act as co-receptors in T-cell activation such as CD80 (B7.1), CD86 (B7.2), and CD40 greatly enhancing their ability to activate T-cells. They also upregulate CCR7, a chemotactic receptor that induces the dendritic cell to travel through the blood stream to the spleen or through the lymphatic system to a lymph node. Here they act as antigen-presenting cells: they activate helper T-cells and killer T-cells as well as B-cells by presenting them with antigens derived from the pathogen, alongside non-antigen specific costimulatory signals. Dendritic cells can also induce T-cell tolerance (unresponsiveness). Certain C-type lectin receptors (CLRs) on the surface of dendritic cells, some functioning as PRRs, help instruct dendritic cells as to when it is appropriate to induce immune tolerance rather than lymphocyte activation.[12]

Every helper T-cell is specific to one particular antigen. Only professional antigen-presenting cells (macrophages, B lymphocytes, and dendritic cells) are able to activate a resting helper T-cell when the matching antigen is presented. However, macrophages and B cells can only activate memory T cells[citation needed] whereas dendritic cells can activate both memory and naive T cells, and are the most potent of all the antigen-presenting cells. Whereas mature dendritic cells are able to activate antigen-specific naive CD8+ T cells, the formation of CD8+ memory T cells requires the interaction of dendritic cells with CD4+ helper T cells.[13] This help from CD4+ T cells additionally activates the matured dendritic cells and licenses them to efficiently induce CD8+ memory T cells, which are also able to be expanded a second time. [14][15] For this activation of dendritic cells, concurrent interaction of all three cell types, namely CD4+ T helper cells, CD8+ T cells and dendritic cells, seems to be required. [16]

As mentioned above, mDC probably arise from monocytes, white blood cells which circulate in the body and, depending on the right signal, can turn into either dendritic cells or macrophages. The monocytes in turn are formed from stem cells in the bone marrow. Monocyte-derived dendritic cells can be generated in vitro from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Plating of PBMCs in a tissue culture flask permits adherence of monocytes. Treatment of these monocytes with interleukin 4 (IL-4) and granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) leads to differentiation to immature dendritic cells (iDCs) in about a week. Subsequent treatment with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) further differentiates the iDCs into mature dendritic cells.Monocytes can be induced to differentiate into dendritic cells by a self-peptide Ep1.B derived from apolipoprotein E.[17] These are primarily tolerogenic plasmacytoid dendritic cells.[18]

Life span of dendritic cells[edit]

Activated macrophages have a lifespan of only a few days though new evidence suggest that it could be extended to weeks rather than days.[citation needed] The lifespan of activated dendritic cells, while somewhat varying according to type and origin, is of a similar order of magnitude, but immature dendritic cells seem to be able to exist in an inactivated state for much longer.

Research challenges[edit]


Dendritic cells and cytokines[edit]

The dendritic cells are constantly in communication with other cells in the body. This communication can take the form of direct cell–cell contact based on the interaction of cell-surface proteins. An example of this includes the interaction of the membrane proteins of the B7 family of the dendritic cell with CD28 present on the lymphocyte. However, the cell–cell interaction can also take place at a distance via cytokines.

For example, stimulating dendritic cells in vivo with microbial extracts causes the dendritic cells to rapidly begin producing IL-12.[19] IL-12 is a signal that helps send naive CD4 T cells towards a Th1 phenotype. The ultimate consequence is priming and activation of the immune system for attack against the antigens which the dendritic cell presents on its surface. However, there are differences in the cytokines produced depending on the type of dendritic cell. The plasmacytoid DC has the ability to produce huge amounts of type-1 IFN's, which recruit more activated macrophages to allow phagocytosis.[20]


HIV infection[edit]

HIV, which causes AIDS, can bind to dendritic cells via various receptors expressed on the cell. The best studied example is DC-SIGN (usually on MDC subset 1, but also on other subsets under certain conditions; since not all dendritic cell subsets express DC-SIGN, its exact role in sexual HIV-1 transmission is not clear)[citation needed]. When the dendritic cell takes up HIV and then travels to the lymph node, the virus can be transferred to helper CD4+ T-cells,[21] contributing to the developing infection. This infection of dendritic cells by HIV explains one mechanism by which the virus could persist after prolonged HAART[citation needed]. Many other viruses, such as the SARS virus seems to use DC-SIGN to 'hitchhike' to its target cells.[22] However, most work with virus binding to DC-SIGN expressing cells has been conducted using in vitro derived cells such as moDCs. The physiological role of DC-SIGN in vivo is more difficult to ascertain.


Altered function of dendritic cells is also known to play a major or even key role in allergy and autoimmune diseases like lupus erythematosus and inflammatory bowel diseases (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis).[23][24][25]

Dendritic cells in animals other than humans[edit]

The above applies to humans. In other organisms, the function of dendritic cells can differ slightly. For example, in brown rats (but not mice), a subset of dendritic cells exists that displays pronounced killer cell-like activity, apparently through its entire lifespan[citation needed]. However, the principal function of dendritic cells as known to date is always to act as an immune sentinel. They survey the body and collect information relevant to the immune system, they are then able to instruct and direct the adaptive arms to respond to challenges.

In addition, an immediate precursor to myeloid and lymphoid dendritic cells of the spleen has been identified.[26] This precursor, termed pre-DC, lacks MHC class II surface expression, and is distinct from monocytes, which primarily give rise to DCs in non-lymphoid tissues.

Dendritic cells have also been found in chickens[27] and turtles.[28]


See also[edit]


  1. ^ Steinman RM, Cohn ZA (1973). "IDENTIFICATION OF A NOVEL CELL TYPE IN PERIPHERAL LYMPHOID ORGANS OF MICE : I. MORPHOLOGY, QUANTITATION, TISSUE DISTRIBUTION". J. Exp. Med. 137 (5): 1142–62. doi:10.1084/jem.137.5.1142. PMC 2139237. PMID 4573839. 
  2. ^ Banchereau J, Steinman RM (March 1998). "Dendritic cells and the control of immunity". Nature 392 (6673): 245–52. doi:10.1038/32588. PMID 9521319. 
  3. ^ "The Lasker Foundation – 2007 Awards". Retrieved 2010-11-27. 
  4. ^ "Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for 2011". 
  5. ^ Sallusto F, Lanzavecchia A (2002). "The instructive role of dendritic cells on T-cell responses". Arthritis Res. 4 Suppl 3 (Suppl 3): S127–32. doi:10.1186/ar567. PMC 3240143. PMID 12110131. 
  6. ^ McKenna K, Beignon A, Bhardwaj N (2005). "Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells: Linking Innate and Adaptive Immunity". J. Virol. 79 (1): 17–27. doi:10.1128/JVI.79.1.17-27.2005. PMC 538703. PMID 15596797. 
  7. ^ Vanbervliet B, Bendriss-Vermare N, Massacrier C, et al. (September 2003). "The Inducible CXCR3 Ligands Control Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Responsiveness to the Constitutive Chemokine Stromal Cell–derived Factor 1 (SDF-1)/CXCL12". J. Exp. Med. 198 (5): 823–30. doi:10.1084/jem.20020437. PMC 2194187. PMID 12953097. 
  8. ^ Liu YJ (2005). "IPC: professional type 1 interferon-producing cells and plasmacytoid dendritic cell precursors". Annu. Rev. Immunol. 23 (1): 275–306. doi:10.1146/annurev.immunol.23.021704.115633. PMID 15771572. 
  9. ^ Dzionek A, Fuchs A, Schmidt P, Cremer S, Zysk M, Miltenyi S, Buck D, Schmitz J (2000). "BDCA-2, BDCA-3, and BDCA-4: three markers for distinct subsets of dendritic cells in human peripheral blood" (PDF). J Immunol 165 (11): 6037–46. doi:10.4049/jimmunol.165.11.6037. PMID 11086035. 
  10. ^ Ziegler-Heitbrock, L et al (2010) Nomenclature of monocytes and dendritic cells in blood" Blood116 (16) e74-e80. doi:10.1182/blood-2010-02-258558 PMID 20628149
  11. ^ Ohgimoto K, Ohgimoto S, Ihara T, Mizuta H, Ishido S, Ayata M, Ogura H, Hotta H (2007). "Difference in production of infectious wild-type measles and vaccine viruses in monocyte-derived dendritic cells". Virus Res 123 (1): 1–8. doi:10.1016/j.virusres.2006.07.006. PMID 16959355. 
  12. ^ Maverakis E, Kim K, Shimoda M, Gershwin M, Patel F, Wilken R, Raychaudhuri S, Ruhaak LR, Lebrilla CB (2015). "Glycans in the immune system and The Altered Glycan Theory of Autoimmunity". J Autoimmun 57 (6): 1–13. doi:10.1016/j.jaut.2014.12.002. PMID 25578468. 
  13. ^ Nat Immunol. 2004 Nov;5(11):1143-8. Epub 2004 Oct 10. Cognate CD4(+) T cell licensing of dendritic cells in CD8(+) T cell immunity. Smith CM, et al.
  15. ^ Eur J Immunol. 2014 Dec;44(12):3543-59. doi: 10.1002/eji.201444477. Epub 2014 Oct 27. Concurrent interaction of DCs with CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells improves secondary CTL expansion: It takes three to tango. Hoyer S., et al.
  17. ^ Stephens TA, Nikoopour E, Rider BJ, Leon-Ponte M, Chau TA, Mikolajczak S, Chaturvedi P, Lee-Chan E, Flavell RA, Haeryfar SM, Madrenas J, Singh B (Nov 2008). "Dendritic cell differentiation induced by a self-peptide derived from apolipoprotein E.". J Immunol 181 (10): 6859–71. doi:10.4049/jimmunol.181.10.6859. PMID 18981105. 
  18. ^ Bellemore SM, Nikoopour E, Au BC, Krougly O, Lee-Chan E, Haeryfar SM, Singh B (2014). "Anti-atherogenic peptide Ep1.B derived from Apolipoprotein E induces tolerogenic plasmacytoid dendritic cells". Clin Exp Immunol 177 (3): 732–42. doi:10.1111/cei.12370. PMID 24784480. 
  19. ^ Reis e Sousa C, Hieny S, Scharton-Kersten T, Jankovic D, et al. (1997). "In Vivo Microbial Stimulation Induces Rapid CD40 Ligand–independent Production of Interleukin 12 by Dendritic Cells and their Redistribution to T Cell Areas". J. Exp. Med. 186 (11): 1819–29. doi:10.1084/jem.186.11.1819. PMC 2199158. PMID 9382881. 
  20. ^ Siegal FP, Kadowaki N, Shodell M, Fitzgerald-Bocarsly PA, et al. (1999-06-11). "The nature of the principal type 1 interferon-producing cells in human blood". Science 284 (5421): 1835–7. doi:10.1126/science.284.5421.1835. PMID 10364556. 
  21. ^ Cavrois M, Neidleman J, Kreisberg JF, Greene WC (2007). "In Vitro Derived Dendritic Cells trans-Infect CD4 T Cells Primarily with Surface-Bound HIV-1 Virions". PLoS 165 (11): 6037–46. doi:10.4049/jimmunol.165.11.6037. PMID 11086035. 
  22. ^ Yang, Zhi-Yong; et al. (2004). "pH-Dependent Entry of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Is Mediated by the Spike Glycoprotein and Enhanced by Dendritic Cell Transfer through DC-SIGN". J. Virol. 78 (11): 5642–50. doi:10.1128/JVI.78.11.5642-5650.2004. PMC 415834. PMID 15140961. 
  23. ^ Baumgart DC, Metzke D, Schmitz J, Scheffold A, Sturm A, Wiedenmann B, Dignass AU (2005). "Patients with active inflammatory bowel disease lack immature peripheral blood plasmacytoid and myeloid dendritic cells". Gut 54 (2): 228–36. doi:10.1136/gut.2004.040360. PMC 1774844. PMID 15647187. 
  24. ^ Baumgart DC, Thomas S, Przesdzing I, Metzke D, Bielecki C, Lehmann SM, Lehnardt S, Dorffel Y, Sturm A, Scheffold A, Schmitz J, Radbruch A (2009). "Exaggerated inflammatory response of primary human myeloid dendritic cells to lipopolysaccharide in patients with inflammatory bowel disease". Clin Exp Immunol 157 (3): 423–36. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2249.2009.03981.x. PMC 2745038. PMID 19664152. 
  25. ^ Baumgart DC, Carding SR (2007). "Inflammatory bowel disease: cause and immunobiology". The Lancet 369 (9573): 1627–40. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(07)60750-8. PMID 17499605. 
  26. ^ Naik SH, Metcalf D, van Nieuwenhuijze A, et al. (June 2006). "Intrasplenic steady-state dendritic cell precursors that are distinct from monocytes". Nature Immunology 7 (6): 663–71. doi:10.1038/ni1340. PMID 16680143. 
  27. ^ Gallego, M; del Cacho E; Lopez-Bernad F; Bascuas JA (September 1997). "Identification of avian dendritic cells in the spleen using a monoclonal antibody specific for chicken follicular dendritic cells". The Anatomical Record 249 (1): 81–85. doi:10.1002/(SICI)1097-0185(199709)249:1<81::AID-AR10>3.0.CO;2-X. PMID 9294652. 
  28. ^ Pérez-Torres, A; Millán-Aldaco DA; Rondán-Zárate A (May–June 1995). "Epidermal Langerhans cells in the terrestrial turtle, Kinosternum integrum". Developmental and Comparative Immunology 19 (3): 225–236. doi:10.1016/0145-305X(95)00006-F. PMID 8595821. 

External links[edit]