Dendritic Cells (Antigen-Presenting Function) (DCs)

Dendritic cells (DCs) are professional antigen-presenting cells (APCs) that play a critical role in initiating, coordinating, and regulating adaptive immune responses. They capture, process, and present antigens to T lymphocytes, bridging innate and adaptive immunity. DCs reside in tissues, internalize antigens, process them into peptides, and present them on MHC molecules to activate CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. They upregulate co-stimulatory molecules and migrate to lymphoid organs to interact with naive T cells, inducing effector/memory responses or tolerance. DCs are targets for immunotherapies against cancer and autoimmune diseases.

Other names

Antigen-Presenting CellsAPCs

Modulation of immune responses via DC activation or tolerance induction through targeting specific receptors.