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Resident and “Inflammatory” Dendritic Cells in Human Skin

2008; Elsevier BV; Volume: 129; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1038/jid.2008.225

1523-1747

Lisa C. Zaba, James G. Krueger, Michelle A. Lowes,

Immune Cell Function and Interaction

DC heterogeneity and complexity has made them difficult to understand, but we are currently developing better tools and models to study these cells. DCs are central orchestrators of innate and cellular immune responses, either by secretion of bioactive cytokines or inflammatory mediators that modulate stromal and local cutaneous immunocytes, or by their ability to directly activate T cells. Currently, we do not know the relative contribution or temporal involvement of DC subsets, T cells, and keratinocytes in initiating and maintaining skin inflammation. The data summarized here indicate that DCs are important in cutaneous homeostasis and are likely central to pathogenic processes in the skin. This information from the skin may also be applicable to other organs, systems, and diseases. Further studies on cutaneous DCs are essential if we are to tap into the enormous therapeutic potential of these fascinating cells.