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Review
. 2017 Jul 11;18(7):1491.
doi: 10.3390/ijms18071491.

Dendritic Cells and Their Role in Allergy: Uptake, Proteolytic Processing and Presentation of Allergens

Piotr Humeniuk  1 , Pawel Dubiela  2 , Karin Hoffmann-Sommergruber  3
Affiliations
Review

Dendritic Cells and Their Role in Allergy: Uptake, Proteolytic Processing and Presentation of Allergens

Piotr Humeniuk et al. Int J Mol Sci. .

Abstract

Dendritic cells (DCs) are the most important antigen presenting cells to activate naïve T cells, which results in the case of Type 1 allergies in a Type 2 helper T cell (Th2)-driven specific immune response towards allergens. So far, a number of different subsets of specialized DCs in different organs have been identified. In the recent past methods to study the interaction of DCs with allergenic proteins, their different uptake and processing mechanisms followed by the presentation to T cells were developed. The following review aims to summarize the most important characteristics of DC subsets in the context of allergic diseases, and highlights the recent findings. These detailed studies can contribute to a better understanding of the pathomechanisms of allergic diseases and contribute to the identification of key factors to be addressed for therapeutic interventions.

Keywords: allergens; dendritic cells; presentation; processing; uptake.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare not conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Overview on the major human dendritic cell (DC) populations and their surface markers.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Antigen uptake by DCs via three independent mechanisms of A: Macropinocytosis; B: Phagocytosis; C–E: receptor-mediated endocytosis (mannose receptor C, TLR receptor D, Fcε receptor E). MHC class 2: major histocompatibility complex class II.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Processing of allergens requires a stepwise degradation followed by loading of MHC II molecules and allergen presentation to T-cell receptors (TCRs) A: Allergen uptake; B: Phagolysosome generation; C: Transfer of MHC class II from endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to Golgi apparatus; D: Forming vesicle with MHC class II; E: Degradation of invariant chain (li); F: Fusion of phagolysosome with MHC class II containing vesicle; G: Release of class I-associated invariant chain peptide (CLIP) and peptide binding; H: Allergen presentation.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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