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Plasmacytoid dendritic cells in immunity

Nature Immunology volume 5, pages 1219–1226 (2004)Cite this article

Abstract

Human and mouse plasmacytoid dendritic cells have been shown to correspond to a specialized cell population that produces large amounts of type I interferons in response to viruses, the so-called natural interferon–producing cells. As a result, intensive investigation is now focused on the potential functions of plasmacytoid dendritic cells in both innate and adaptive immunity. Here we review recent progress on the characterization of plasmacytoid dendritic cell origin, development, migration and function in immunity and tolerance, as well as their effect on human diseases.

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Figure 1: Localization of pDCs.
Figure 2: Morphology of pDCs.
Figure 3: The immunostimulatory functions of activated pDCs.
Figure 4: The tolerogenic functions of pDCs.

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Acknowledgements

We thank F. Facchetti for pDC images; and S. Sozzani, S. Gilfillan, A. Blasius and W. Barchet for comments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA

    Marco Colonna

  2. Laboratory for Immunological Research, Schering-Plough, 27 chemin des peupliers, BP11, Dardilly, 69571, Cedex, France

    Giorgio Trinchieri

  3. Department of Immunology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas, Houston, 77030, USA

    Yong-Jun Liu

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  1. Marco Colonna
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  2. Giorgio Trinchieri
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  3. Yong-Jun Liu
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Correspondence to Marco Colonna.

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Colonna, M., Trinchieri, G. & Liu, YJ. Plasmacytoid dendritic cells in immunity. Nat Immunol 5, 1219–1226 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/ni1141

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