Abstract
The operation of both central and peripheral tolerance ensures the prevention of autoimmune diseases. The maintenance of peripheral tolerance requires self-antigen presentation by professional antigen presenting cells (APCs). Dendritic cells (DCs) are considered as major APCs involved in this process. The current review discusses the role of DCs in autoimmune diseases, the various factors involved in the induction and maintenance of tolerogenic DC phenotype, and pinpoints their therapeutic capacity as well as potential novel targets for future clinical studies.
Highlights
Immune reaction against self-antigens is primarily prevented within the thymus in a process called central tolerance [1]
dendritic cells (DCs) are the major antigen presenting cells (APCs) involved in this process
Multiple components are implicated in maintenance and/or induction of tolerogenic effector DC phenotype (Figure 2)
Summary
Immune reaction against self-antigens is primarily prevented within the thymus in a process called central tolerance [1]. Dendritic cells are present in all tissues and involved in the initiation of immune responses [5] They are capable of recognizing pathogens and various danger signals, which leads to the upregulation of their co-stimulatory molecules, production of cytokines, and activation and effector differentiation of pathogenspecific T cells. Non-lymphoid tissues as well as SLOs contain fully differentiated DCs and pre-DC population (CD45+ Lin− MHC-II− CD11c+) that provide source for DC development and homeostasis in situ [12, 13]. Due to their functional heterogeneity and central spot in antigen presentation, DCs seem to carefully balance between www.frontiersin.org
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