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Death, destruction, danger and dendritic cells

Abstract

Dendritic cells are known to be involved in recognition of foreign antigens and initiation of specific T-cell responses. The 'danger hypothesis' suggests that the immune system can also respond to endogenous signals of distress. New data indicate that dendritic cells are the first to respond to these signals, although the mechanisms involved in their activation are unclear (pages 1249–1255).

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Notes

  1. Editorial Correction:

    The printed version of this article contained an error introduced during editing. The sentence "It was recently discovered that activated DC have also have capacity to deliver co-stimulatory signals that are required for T cell activation, and hence the generation of many adaptive responses, and the ability to migrate from non-lymphoid locations into central lymphoid tissues where such responses are initiated." should read "Activated DC also have the capacity to deliver the co-stimulatory signals required for T-cell activation, and hence the generation of adaptive responses, and the ability to migrate from non-lymphoid locations into central lymphoid tissues where such responses are initiated." We regret the error.

  2. Editorial Correction:

    The printed version of this article contained an error introduced during editing. The sentence "The immune system has evolved the ability to discriminate between self and infectious non-self4." should read "It waspostulated that the immune system has evolved the ability to discriminate between self and infectious non-self4.“ We regret the error.

  3. Editorial Correction:

    The printed version of this article contained an error introduced during editing. The sentence "It is possible that antigens from apoptotic cells, perhaps including normally sequestered self antigens, can be presented by DC's, but that DC's do not become activated. Therefore it is possible that these DCs tolerize T cells (antigen presentation in the absence of co-stimulation). " should read "If it is generally found that certain antigens from apoptotic cells, perhaps including normally sequestered self antigens, can be presented by DCs, but that DCs do not become activated, then one might suggest that these DCs could tolerize T cells (antigen presentation in the absence of costimulation).“ We regret the error.

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Austyn, J. Death, destruction, danger and dendritic cells. Nat Med 5, 1232–1233 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1038/15182

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