Dendritic cells erase bad memory

Eur J Immunol. 2010 Jul;40(7):1870-2. doi: 10.1002/eji.201040704.

Abstract

DC not only activate CD4 T (Th) cell and cytotoxic CD8 T cell (CTL) responses against pathogens, but they also tolerize autoreactive T cells in order to avoid autoimmunity. Previous studies have demonstrated that steady-state DC can tolerize naïve CTL, naïve Th cells and memory CTL. A study in this issue of the European Journal of Immunology demonstrates that DC also tolerize memory Th cells. This is arguably most critical for developing therapies against autoimmune disease; first, because Th cells are the central regulators of all adaptive immune responses, and second because memory, rather than naïve T cells are the clinically relevant cells in established autoimmune diseases. This study fosters hope that DC-based specific immunotherapies for common autoimmune diseases are possible.

Publication types

  • Introductory Journal Article

MeSH terms

  • Adaptive Immunity
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis
  • Autoimmune Diseases / immunology*
  • Autoimmune Diseases / therapy
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology
  • Dendritic Cells / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Immune Tolerance
  • Immunologic Memory
  • Immunotherapy, Adoptive*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / immunology*