Langerin+CD8+ Dendritic Cells in the Splenic Marginal Zone: Not So Marginal After All

Conclusions and Future Perspectives Many (if not all) immune functions attributed to the splenic cDC1 subpopulation appear to be exerted by the Langerin+ subset. However, several developmental and functional insights regarding the Langerin+CD8+ cDC1 subset and, in particular, the identification of its human counterpart remain to be clarified. On one hand, Langerin expression could reflect a more mature state of CD8+ cDC1, enabling them to perform their specific immune regulatory functions. On the other hand, certain factors expressed by cell types unique to the MZ (including MZM, MMM, MZ B cells, and sinus lining cells) may facilitate the specific properties of, exclusively, the Langerin+CD8+ cDC1 subset. Therefore, the elucidation of the relationship between Langerin+CD8+ cDC1 and the MZ, including the determination of factors supporting the unique properties of Langerin+CD8+ cDC1, may be of particular interest. The combination of high-dimensional techniques and unbiased analysis has already revealed distinct differentiation stages and/or subpopulations of human cDC1 and cDC2 (16, 126), and might allow the identification of human equivalents of the murine Langerin+CD8+ cDC1. These human cDC could then potentially be exploited for future therapies of e.g., chronic inflammatory diseases or cancer. Author Contributions All authors listed have made a substantial, direct and intellectual contribution to writing this review articl...
Source: Frontiers in Immunology - Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research