Human Dendritic Cells: The Sentinels of the Immune System

Human dendritic cells have been developed to collect and break down antigens into peptides that can be displayed on MHC molecules that T cells can recognise. However all DC subtypes are responsible for antigen uptake, handling, and appearance to naive T cells, DCs are heterogeneous, including myeloid and plasmacytoid DCs. 

The DC subtypes vary in location, migration patterns, pathways, specific immunological function, and reliance on infections or inflammatory stimuli for their production. The phenotype and activity of DCs are critical for establishing tolerance and memory throughout the maturation of an adaptive immune response.