The Role of Dendritic Cells in Lung Defense and the Development of Dendritic Cell-Based Therapies

Abstract

Lung as the most important organ for gas exchange in our body has a very large surface area. This continually exposes our lung to potential dangers. Therefore, it requires good defense mechanisms. Dendritic cells are the component of our body's defense system that is important in bridging the innate and adaptive immune systems. Dendritic cells function primarily to present antigen to T cells otherwise known as antigen-presenting cells. Dendritic cells are also known to secrete mediator molecules that are important in the body's immune response. It is now known that there are several types of dendritic cells and their subsets, including plasmacytoid, classical, and monocyte-derived dendritic cells. Dendritic cells can also be identified by their location in the body. Understanding the role and function of dendritic cells is paramount, especially in developing medical technology and dendritic cell-based therapies. This literature review will discuss dendritic cells, their function, classification, and recent developments in dendritic cell-based therapy.