Dendritic cells

Dendritic cells (DCs) are heterogeneous bone-marrow derived cells and known to be professional antigen-presenting cells. The function of DCs is to recognize antigens, phagocyte them and present them to T lymphocytes. In addition, DCs also stimulate various cytokines and costimulatory molecules to determine immune activation or anergy (Steinman, 2012). Thus, DCs bridge innate and adoptive immune systems and orient immune response.