Langerin+CD8+ dendritic cells in the splenic marginal zone : not so marginal after all

Abstract

Dendritic cells (DC) fulfill an essential sentinel function within the immune system, acting at the interface of innate and adaptive immunity. The DC family, both in mouse and man, shows high functional functional heterogeneity in order to orchestrate immune responses towards the immense variety of pathogens pathogens and other immunological threats. In this review, we focus on the Langerin+CD8+ DC subpopulation subpopulation in the spleen. Langerin+CD8+ DC exhibit a high ability to take up apoptotic / dying cells cells, and therefore they are essential to prime and shape CD8+ T cell responses. Next to the induction induction of immunity towards blood-borne pathogens, i.e. viruses, these DC are important for the regulation regulation of tolerance towards cell-associated self-antigens. The ontogeny and differentiation pathways pathways of CD8+CD103+ DC should be further explored to better understand the immunological role of these these cells as a prerequisite of their therapeutic application.