Cytokines and dendritic cells

This review focuses on cytokines involved in the differentiation and the functions of dendritic cells (DCs), the most potent antigen-presenting cells in the organism. Tn the mouse, GM-CSF alone can induce the differentiation of DCs from precursor cells found in the blood or the bone marrow iv. In humans, the use of cytokine cocktails allows to generate DCs in vitro from CD34(+) or monocytic precursors. Among various cytokines, GM-CSF, TNF-alpha and IL-4 appear as key regulators of DC differentiation . In vivo, cytokines influence both the generation and the traffic of DCs in lymphoid and non-lymphoid organs, Importantly : TNF-alpha and. IL-1 beta, which induce the phenotypic and functional maturation of DCs, provoke their migration towards secondary lymphoid tissues There DCs encounter naive T cells and initiate primal?: immune responses, TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta also influence antigen presentation to T cells, and different cytokines such as IL-10 and IL-12 regulate the induction of Th1- or Th2-type responses br; DCs. Many of these cytokines carl be secreted by DCs themselves, either constitutively or in an inducible manner, while the expression of cytokine receptors is also regulated on the surface of DCs, Understanding the complex cytokine networks involved in the physiology of DCs is necessary in order to efficiently manipulate these cells, the use of which is considered for the immunotherapy of cancer.