| Dendritic cells are key regulators of the human
immune system under both normal and pathological conditions. Dendritic cells
are therefore prominent targets for therapeutic intervention in a range of immune
disorders, as well as attractive targets for improving normal immune function in,
for example, the development of new vaccine strategies, boosting the immune
system during infection, or for immuno-compromised patients. This article
presents and discusses the use of human dendritic cell models for predicting
in vivo effects of novel anti-inflammatory drug candidates, probiotic
microorganisms or natural extracts.
Dendritic cells (DCs) are part of the innate
immune system upon which a pathogen
challenge, for example, activates the
innate and adaptive immune response.
After a pathogen challenge, DCs migrate
to the lymph nodes where they can
activate lymphocytes to respond towards
the infectious organism. In certain
immune disorders, this process has
been skewed towards an unfavourable
type of response, resulting in allergic
or autoimmune disorders.
DENDRITIC CELLS AS KEY PLAYERS
IN IMMUNOLOGY
During the migration process of
monocytes into the peripheral tissue,
the monocytes differentiate into so-called
immature DCs. In the tissue, the immature
DCs exist in a steady state until
challenged with a pathogen or activated
by cytokines and chemokines secreted
by other cells in the tissue environment. |
