Intravenous immunoglobulin and dendritic cells

Clin Rev Allergy Immunol. 2005 Dec;29(3):201-5. doi: 10.1385/criai:29:3:201.

Abstract

Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) has increasingly been used for the treatment of autoimmune and systemic inflammatory diseases, and in supportive therapy of immunodeficient patients. Available clinical and experimental evidence suggests, however, that a wide spectrum of immune-mediated conditions could benefit from IVIg, including acute and chronic/relapsing diseases and autoimmune diseases mediated by pathogenic autoantibodies or by autoaggressive T-cells. Dendritic cells (DCs) are professional antigen-presenting cells and because of their capacity to stimulate naïve T-cells, they play a central role in the initiation of primary immune responses. Several immunomodulatory agents have been shown to inhibit DC activation. Recently, we examined the effects of IVIg on differentiation, maturation, and functions of DCs. We demonstrate that DCs are one of the targets for the immunomodulatory effects of IVIg.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigen Presentation / drug effects
  • Antigen Presentation / immunology
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Dendritic Cells / cytology
  • Dendritic Cells / drug effects*
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / immunology*
  • Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Immunoglobulins, Intravenous