Kurzfassung

Dendritic Cells are the key antigen presenting cells for the induction of cytotoxic T-cells, which are considered the crucial effector cell type for cancer immunotherapy. In order to be able to prime a functional CTL response, DC need not only to present the relevant antigenic peptide but need to undergo an activation and differentiation process (Banchereau and Steinman, 1998). DC activation can be triggered by the recognition microbial components through pathogen recognition receptors. In...Dendritic Cells are the key antigen presenting cells for the induction of cytotoxic T-cells, which are considered the crucial effector cell type for cancer immunotherapy. In order to be able to prime a functional CTL response, DC need not only to present the relevant antigenic peptide but need to undergo an activation and differentiation process (Banchereau and Steinman, 1998). DC activation can be triggered by the recognition microbial components through pathogen recognition receptors. In addition, signals received from other cells like CD40 ligation and inflammatory cytokines can contribute to DC activation and have been shown to help for the priming of functional effector CTL responses and memory Recent research suggests that DC may receive help from within the dendritic cell network i.e.from plasmacytoid DC (Yoneyama et al., 2005). We have recently generated a transgenic mouse model, that allows the inducible expression of viral CTL epitopes specifically on dendritic cells (Probst et al., 2003). Here, we want to use this model to investigate the role of cooperation within the DC network on CTL priming in response to various microbial stimuli.» weiterlesen» einklappen