Dendritic cells are now recognized as the gatekeepers of the immune response, possessing a unique potential for acquisition of antigens at extremely low exposure levels and for efficient presentation of these in an immunogenic form to the naive T-cell system. With the aim of controlling antigen processing and presentation, the solutions used by dendritic cells to respond to environmental changes are numerous. In the presence of pathogens, dendritic cells regulate strongly their endocytic pathway by interfering with uptake, proteolysis, membrane dynamics and transport in and out of the lysosome to become the most potent antigen-presenting cells known.
Dendritic cells are thought to be an inherent part of future vaccines against tumors and chronic diseases, which are based on a cell mediated immune response. Monocyte derived dendritic cells can be generated in vitro and primed against antigen structures.
