Biomaterial Database

Dendritic cells and host resistance to infection. 2003

Heidrun Moll

Institute for Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases, University of Würzburg, Germany. heidrun.moll@mail.uni-wuerzburg.de

Host defence against infection requires an integrated response of both the innate and adaptive arms of the immune system. Emerging data indicate that dendritic cells contribute an essential part to the initiation and regulation of adaptive immunity. Dendritic cells guard the sites of pathogen entry to the host and are uniquely suited to detect and capture invading microbes. Upon recognition of microbial structures and appropriate activation, a maturation programme is triggered and dendritic cells migrate to lymphoid organs to stimulate a primary cell-mediated immune response. Moreover, dendritic cells play a critical role in shaping the emerging response, thereby controlling the course of infection. They can discriminate between various types of microorganisms and are capable of producing different cytokines in response to different microbial stimuli. On the other hand, pathogens developed numerous strategies to evade and subvert dendritic cell functions. Elucidating the interactions of dendritic cells with microbial pathogens may lead to novel strategies for combating infectious diseases by dendritic cell-based vaccination and immunotherapy. This review highlights recent advances in our knowledge of the unique role of dendritic cells in counteracting microbial infections.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007113	Immunity, Innate	The capacity of a normal organism to remain unaffected by microorganisms and their toxins. It results from the presence of naturally occurring ANTI-INFECTIVE AGENTS, constitutional factors such as BODY TEMPERATURE and immediate acting immune cells such as NATURAL KILLER CELLS.	Immunity, Native,Immunity, Natural,Immunity, Non-Specific,Resistance, Natural,Innate Immune Response,Innate Immunity,Immune Response, Innate,Immune Responses, Innate,Immunity, Non Specific,Innate Immune Responses,Native Immunity,Natural Immunity,Natural Resistance,Non-Specific Immunity
D007239	Infections	Invasion of the host organism by microorganisms or their toxins or by parasites that can cause pathological conditions or diseases.	Infection,Infection and Infestation,Infections and Infestations,Infestation and Infection,Infestations and Infections
D008562	Membrane Glycoproteins	Glycoproteins found on the membrane or surface of cells.	Cell Surface Glycoproteins,Surface Glycoproteins,Cell Surface Glycoprotein,Membrane Glycoprotein,Surface Glycoprotein,Glycoprotein, Cell Surface,Glycoprotein, Membrane,Glycoprotein, Surface,Glycoproteins, Cell Surface,Glycoproteins, Membrane,Glycoproteins, Surface,Surface Glycoprotein, Cell,Surface Glycoproteins, Cell
D011956	Receptors, Cell Surface	Cell surface proteins that bind signalling molecules external to the cell with high affinity and convert this extracellular event into one or more intracellular signals that alter the behavior of the target cell (From Alberts, Molecular Biology of the Cell, 2nd ed, pp693-5). Cell surface receptors, unlike enzymes, do not chemically alter their ligands.	Cell Surface Receptor,Cell Surface Receptors,Hormone Receptors, Cell Surface,Receptors, Endogenous Substances,Cell Surface Hormone Receptors,Endogenous Substances Receptors,Receptor, Cell Surface,Surface Receptor, Cell
D002454	Cell Differentiation	Progressive restriction of the developmental potential and increasing specialization of function that leads to the formation of specialized cells, tissues, and organs.	Differentiation, Cell,Cell Differentiations,Differentiations, Cell
D002465	Cell Movement	The movement of cells from one location to another. Distinguish from CYTOKINESIS which is the process of dividing the CYTOPLASM of a cell.	Cell Migration,Locomotion, Cell,Migration, Cell,Motility, Cell,Movement, Cell,Cell Locomotion,Cell Motility,Cell Movements,Movements, Cell
D003713	Dendritic Cells	Specialized cells of the hematopoietic system that have branch-like extensions. They are found throughout the lymphatic system, and in non-lymphoid tissues such as SKIN and the epithelia of the intestinal, respiratory, and reproductive tracts. They trap and process ANTIGENS, and present them to T-CELLS, thereby stimulating CELL-MEDIATED IMMUNITY. They are different from the non-hematopoietic FOLLICULAR DENDRITIC CELLS, which have a similar morphology and immune system function, but with respect to humoral immunity (ANTIBODY PRODUCTION).	Dendritic Cells, Interdigitating,Interdigitating Cells,Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells,Veiled Cells,Dendritic Cells, Interstitial,Dendritic Cells, Plasmacytoid,Interdigitating Dendritic Cells,Interstitial Dendritic Cells,Cell, Dendritic,Cell, Interdigitating,Cell, Interdigitating Dendritic,Cell, Interstitial Dendritic,Cell, Plasmacytoid Dendritic,Cell, Veiled,Cells, Dendritic,Cells, Interdigitating,Cells, Interdigitating Dendritic,Cells, Interstitial Dendritic,Cells, Plasmacytoid Dendritic,Cells, Veiled,Dendritic Cell,Dendritic Cell, Interdigitating,Dendritic Cell, Interstitial,Dendritic Cell, Plasmacytoid,Interdigitating Cell,Interdigitating Dendritic Cell,Interstitial Dendritic Cell,Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell,Veiled Cell
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D015398	Signal Transduction	The intracellular transfer of information (biological activation/inhibition) through a signal pathway. In each signal transduction system, an activation/inhibition signal from a biologically active molecule (hormone, neurotransmitter) is mediated via the coupling of a receptor/enzyme to a second messenger system or to an ion channel. Signal transduction plays an important role in activating cellular functions, cell differentiation, and cell proliferation. Examples of signal transduction systems are the GAMMA-AMINOBUTYRIC ACID-postsynaptic receptor-calcium ion channel system, the receptor-mediated T-cell activation pathway, and the receptor-mediated activation of phospholipases. Those coupled to membrane depolarization or intracellular release of calcium include the receptor-mediated activation of cytotoxic functions in granulocytes and the synaptic potentiation of protein kinase activation. Some signal transduction pathways may be part of larger signal transduction pathways; for example, protein kinase activation is part of the platelet activation signal pathway.	Cell Signaling,Receptor-Mediated Signal Transduction,Signal Pathways,Receptor Mediated Signal Transduction,Signal Transduction Pathways,Signal Transduction Systems,Pathway, Signal,Pathway, Signal Transduction,Pathways, Signal,Pathways, Signal Transduction,Receptor-Mediated Signal Transductions,Signal Pathway,Signal Transduction Pathway,Signal Transduction System,Signal Transduction, Receptor-Mediated,Signal Transductions,Signal Transductions, Receptor-Mediated,System, Signal Transduction,Systems, Signal Transduction,Transduction, Signal,Transductions, Signal