AUTHOR=Owens Benjamin M., Kaye Paul M. TITLE=Stromal Cell Induction of Regulatory Dendritic Cells JOURNAL=Frontiers in Immunology VOLUME=3 YEAR=2012 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2012.00262 DOI=10.3389/fimmu.2012.00262 ISSN=1664-3224 ABSTRACT=

Dendritic cells (DCs) are specialized antigen presenting cells of bone marrow origin that can exist in tissues in either an immature or mature state. DCs have a myriad of roles in immunity and tolerance induction, but are perhaps best known for their role in the activation and differentiation of naïve T cells at the onset of an acquired immune response. Over the past decade, a body of literature has developed that suggests that DCs, as well as many other myeloid cell populations, are also capable of exerting “regulatory” effects on T cell responses. However, relatively little is known regarding the mechanisms by which such regulatory myeloid cells arise in vivo. In this mini-review, we first define the characteristics of “regulatory” DCs (rDCs) and then focus on the contribution of non-hematopoietic stromal cells to their generation within specific tissue microenvironments. We also highlight areas of research that warrant future attention, arguing for a focusing of efforts toward a better understanding of the features of stromal cell populations that enable the induction of rDCs. Finally, we discuss how an understanding of stromal cell-myeloid cell interactions may lead to new therapeutic strategies for cancer, autoimmunity, and infectious disease.