Dendritic cells steering antigen and leukocyte traffic in lymph nodes.

Abstract

Dendritic cells (DCs) play a central role in initiating and shaping the adaptive immune response, thanks to their ability to uptake antigens and present them to T cells. Once in the lymph node (LN), DCs can spread the antigen to other DCs, expanding the pool of cells capable of activating specific T-cell clones. Additionally, DCs can modulate the dynamics of other immune cells, by increasing naïve T-cell dwell time, thereby facilitating the scanning for cognate antigens, and by selectively recruiting other leukocytes. Here we discuss the role of DCs in orchestrating antigen and leukocyte trafficking within the LN, together with the implications of this trafficking on T-cell activation and commitment to effector function.