Perspectives of Dendritic Cell Research

Abstract

The dendritic (Langerhans) cells in the skin belong to a family of dendritic cells, the progenitors of which are made in the bone marrow. The precursor cells are present in the blood and the mature cells are present in all epithelia of the body. The studies presented in this book focus on the skin dendritic cells, their properties and involvement in normal physiological conditions like aging and in abnormal genetic states or after environmental damage (like virus infections). The available information on the skin dendritic (Langerhans) cells does not provide us with answers to many questions concerning the evolutionary aspects of dendritic cell development in avian and reptile species, the role of dendritic cells in the development of skin cancer, the importance of dendritic cells in normal skin in humans, the mechanism of antigen presentation by the dendritic cells and the relationship between dendritic cells in epithelia of different organs in the body. These questions, which might provide new insight into treatment of autoimmune diseases as well as new approaches to immunization against pathogenic agents like viruses are currently under study. This review of current developments in the research on aspects of dendritic cells which were not dealt with in the present book, may provide the reader with additional information on the current reseach avenues.