More DC subtypes revealed

Abstract

Dendritic Cells\nDendritic cells (DCs) are specialized immune cells that induce antigen-specific immunity and are sentinels for the initiation of T lymphocyte anticancer responses. Mouse DCs have traditionally been classified into two groups, cDC1 and cDC2, but Brown et al. discovered that the cDC2 group is made up of two previously unknown subsets called cDC2A and cDC2B. Using single-cell RNA sequencing, they found that cDC2A and cDC2B can be distinguished by expression of the transcription factors T-bet and RORγT. These subsets seem to have different functions, with cDC2A associated with wound healing and cDC2B linked to a proinflammatory state. Similar DC counterparts were found in human samples, which may provide an explanation for the mixed responses that patients have to cancer immunotherapy.\n\nCell 179 , 846 (2019).