The TGF-β superfamily in dendritic cell biology

Dendritic cells (DCs) are antigen-presenting cells crucial in initiating and shaping the outcome of immune response [1]. As immature cells, DCs patrol surrounding tissues, sampling for foreign antigens and pathogens. They express a broad range of receptors for the recognition of bacterial and viral components, including Toll-like receptors (TLR), NOD-like receptors and C-type lectin receptors [2]. Upon microbial contact or following stimulation by inflammatory cytokines, DCs undergo a maturation process characterized by the expression of co-stimulatory molecules and by a change in the repertoire of chemokine receptor expression causing the migration of DCs from the periphery to the draining lymph nodes where they meet naïve T cells [3,4].
Source: Cytokine and Growth Factor Reviews - Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Tags: Survey Source Type: research