Dendritic cells and antigen-presenting cells (DC/APC)

Dendritic cells (DCs) and antigen-presenting cells (APCs) are a heterogeneous group of immune cells, including macrophages and B cells, that mediate the cellular immune response by processing and presenting antigens to T cells [1]. These cells serve as the essential link between innate and adaptive immunity, utilizing Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) class I and II molecules to display antigenic peptides to T-cell receptors [2]. In oncology, DCs are targeted to enhance the recognition of tumor-specific antigens, often through ex vivo loading or in vivo activation using Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists to overcome immune suppression [3]. Conversely, in autoimmune diseases, the interaction between APCs and T cells is often inhibited using costimulatory blockers to prevent self-reactive immune attacks [4]. While this entry describes a broad cell population rather than a single protein target, it represents a major focal point for immunotherapeutic interventions such as cell-based vaccines and checkpoint modulators [5]. [1] StatPearls, Antigen Presenting Cells (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK546619/); [2] Nature Reviews Immunology, Dendritic cells: from basic biology to therapeutic applications (https://www.nature.com/articles/nri.2017.107); [3] NIH, Dendritic Cell-Based Cancer Vaccines (https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/types/immunotherapy/cancer-vaccines); [4] PubMed, Targeting antigen-presenting cells for the treatment of autoimmune diseases (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28913145/); [5] Journal of Clinical Investigation, Dendritic cells in the cancer-immunity cycle (https://www.jci.org/articles/view/122530).

Other names

Professional antigen-presenting cellsAPCsDCsAntigen-presenting cellsDendritic cells

Modulation of antigen presentation, induction of cell maturation via Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonism, or blockade of costimulatory signals (e.g., CD80/CD86) to inhibit T-cell activation.