Dendritic Cells
2,192 views
Immunology
- Innate Immunity
- Adaptive Immunity
- Macrophages
- Neutrophils
- Dendritic Cells
- Mast Cells
- Eosinophils
- Basophils
- Natural Killer Cells
- Antigens
- MHC I and II
- Antibodies
- B Lymphocytes Overview
- B Cell Stages
- B-Cell Activation
- Plasma B-Cells
- Memory B-Cells
- T-Lymphocytes Overview
- T-Cell Stages
- Types of Activated T-Cells
Summary
Dendritic cells are cells of the innate immune system that serve a crucial role in connecting the innate and adaptive immune responses. As phagocytes, dendritic cells monitor body surfaces for foreign pathogens. When they recognize a foreign pathogen, dendritic cells engulf or eat these pathogens, and digest them into little pieces called antigens. These antigens are then presented on their cell surface for recognition by T-cells to stimulate an adaptive immune response against the invading threat.
Key Points
- Dendritic Cells
- Innate immune cell
- Phagocyte
- Patrols outer surfaces of the body (skin, GI tract, etc.) to identify and eat possible pathogens
- Foreign pathogens are put into phagosomes, which fuse with lysosomes to break down the pathogen
- Presents antigens
- Bridge between innate and adaptive immune response
- Phagocytosed and processed antigens may be presented on cell surface for recognition by T-cells