Transcriptional programming of the dendritic cell network

Dendritic cells (DCs) can be divided into multiple specialized subsets that are pivotal in bridging between the innate and adaptive immune responses.Specification of DC subsets is initiated in the bone marrow and generates precursors committed to either the plasmacytoid DC (pDC) or conventional DC lineages.Terminal differentiation occurs in both peripheral lymphoid organs and tissues in response to local environmental cues such as cytokines and inflammatory stimuli.Transcription factors programme the specification and commitment of precursors to different DC subsets.Shared transcription factor usage by DC subsets provides a common differentiation pathway for precursor cells, whereas terminal differentiation is often dictated by a single master regulator of that lineage (for example, E2-2 for pDCs and BATF3 for CD103+ DCs).