Chemokine and chemotactic signals in dendritic cell migration

Abstract

Dendritic cells (DCs) are professional antigen-presenting cells responsible for the activation of specific T-cell responses and for the development of immune tolerance. Immature DCs reside in peripheral tissues and specialize in antigen capture, whereas mature DCs reside mostly in the secondary lymphoid organs where they act as antigen-presenting cells. The correct localization of DCs is strictly regulated by a large variety of chemotactic and nonchemotactic signals that include bacterial products, DAMPs (danger-associated molecular patterns), complement proteins, lipids, and chemokines. These signals function both individually and in concert, generating a complex regulatory network. This network is regulated at multiple levels through different strategies, such as synergistic interactions, proteolytic processing, and the actions of atypical chemokine receptors. Understanding this complex scenario will help to clarify the role of DCs in different pathological conditions, such as autoimmune diseases and cancers and will uncover new molecular targets for therapeutic interventions.

Stored red blood cells enhance in vivo migration of dendritic cells by promoting reactive oxygen species–induced cytoskeletal rearrangement

“…Unlike other APCs, DCs are specialized for homing to the T‐cell zones of lymphoid organs for interactions with T lymphocytes . Under physiological conditions, immature DCs (imDCs) that navigate through peripheral tissues are responsible for sensing danger‐associated antigens; the presence of danger signals triggers DC maturation, causing the cells to leave the tissue, migrate to lymphatic tissues, and present antigen to T cells …”

Chemokines: the past, the present and the future

“…Another prominent feature of chemokines in homeostasis and diseases is their ability to regulate the trafficking of dendritic cells (DCs), as described by Sozzani et al 5 DCs are professional antigen-presenting cells that are responsible for the activation of specific T and B lymphocyte-mediated immunity. The biological activities of DCs are closely related to the precise tissue localization of the cells during different steps of pathophysiological conditions.…”

“…These signals act both individually and, in most cases, in concert to establish multiple levels of regulatory mechanisms, such as synergy, relay and interactions with selected atypical chemokine GPCRs. 3,5 This article thus provides an up-to-date overview of a sophisticated scenario that controls DC trafficking and activation in immune responses and anticancer host defense.…”

“…The article by Van Damme et al 5 reviews the involvement of chemokines in two human chronic respiratory diseases, namely, primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) and cystic fibrosis (CF), as examples of such cooperation. Airway infections recur in patients with PCD and CF, which are characterized by persistent bacterial colonization and uncontrollable inflammation.…”

“…To better understand the pathophysiological significance of chemokines, this special issue includes five review articles [3][4][5][6][7] that provide a glimpse of their classification, structure-function relationship and involvement in diseases. Due to space limitations, the content included in this special issue may reflect only the tip of an iceberg in the deep ocean.…”