Abstract
While dendritic cells (DC) are central to the induction and regulation of adaptive immunity, these cells are very heterogenous and specific subsets can be characterized based on the expression of cell surface markers and functional properties. Intestinal CD103+ DCs are the subject of particular interest due to their role in regulating mucosal immunity. Since the epithelial surfaces are constantly exposed to a high antigenic load, tight regulation of innate and adaptive intestinal immune responses is vital as intestinal inflammation can have detrimental consequences for the host. Strategically positioned within the lamina propria, CD103+ DCs play an important role in maintaining intestinal immune homeostasis. These cells are required for the induction of tolerogenic immune responses and imprinting gut homing phenotypic changes on antigen-specific T cells. Recent insights into their development and regulatory properties have revealed additional immunoregulatory roles and further highlighted their importance for intestinal immunity. In this review we discuss the nature of the intestinal CD103+ DC population and the emerging roles of these cells in the regulation of mucosal immunity.
Highlights
The epithelial surfaces of the body are constantly exposed to a wide variety of antigenic material, ranging from dietary proteins and commensals to pathogenic bacteria, viruses, and allergens
This was further highlighted by Varol et al (2009) they determined that when mice display only CD103−CX3CR1+ dendritic cell (DC), they are more susceptible to dextran sodium sulfhate (DSS)-induced colitis (Varol et al, 2009)
Bogunovic et al (2009) have demonstrated the association of CD103+ DCs with epithelial cells and luminal bacteria may play a role in CX3CR1 phenotypic differentiation, as shown by the fact that bacteria-derived ATP is involved in the development of Th17-cell-inducing DCs (Atarashi et al, 2008)
Summary
The epithelial surfaces of the body are constantly exposed to a wide variety of antigenic material, ranging from dietary proteins and commensals to pathogenic bacteria, viruses, and allergens. Recent work by Merad and colleagues has revealed the presence of CD11chighMHC class IIhigh DCs within both the intestinal epithelial cell (IEC) fraction and LP, these cells were absent from both the serosal and muscularis layers. These cells were further characterized into two distinct populations, CD11chighMHC class IIhighCD103+CD11b+ and CD11chighMHC class IIhighCD103−CD11b+ (Figure 1). The majority of CD11chighMHCclassIIhigh DCs in the small intestinal LP (SI-LP) express the CD103 integrin and have distinct functional properties (del Rio et al, 2008) These cells are found within the PPs (Jaensson et al, 2008), colonic LP and (MLN; Johansson-Lindbom et al, 2005). Integrins are a large group of transmembrane αβ heterodimers that www.frontiersin.org
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