Dendritic Cells and Dendritic Cell Cancer Vaccines

What Are Dendritic Cells?

Many immune system cells defend against microorganisms or cancer. Some recognize molecules (antigens) and form specific responses; others present antigens to T lymphocytes, the cells forming specific responses. These are called antigen-presenting cells (APCs). Dendritic cells are antigen-presenting cells stimulating B and T lymphocytes by presenting various antigens.

An antigenis a toxin or other foreign substance triggering immunity, particularly antibody production.

Dendritic cells link the immune system's innate and adaptive branches.

They take up antigens from invading microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites) and, through special receptors, present them to lymphocytes. Alongside presentation, to control lymphocyte activity,they release TGF-β, IL-4, IL-10, IL-12 and other cytokines as signaling molecules.

Dendritic Cells Gather Field Intelligence and Train T Cells at Headquarters

Dendritic cells receive activating signals and become activated, leaving their tissue to migrate toward lymph nodes until reaching the T-cell area. There they present tissue-derived antigens through MHC proteins to immature (naive) T cells. These proliferate specifically against the antigen, spread throughout the body and destroy microorganisms or cells carrying it.

Can We Use Dendritic Cells to Train Immunity to Fight Cancer?

Tumor cells importantly hide from T lymphocytes and appear healthy, allowing escape from many immune-stimulating treatments. Dendritic cells' ability to expand naive T cells against specific antigens has recently attracted cancer-treatment interest.

Using these properties, researchers recently developed a personalized treatment called the dendritic cell cancer vaccine as an approach. Patient-derived cells are stimulated with tumor antigens in the laboratory using genetic engineering. They then display tumor antigens on their surface to lymphocytes inside the body for recognition. T cells proliferate and mature specifically against an antigen, become active and release cytokines stimulating other lymphocytes. This opens a promising treatment path using dendritic cell vaccines. An FDA-approved vaccine prepared this way exists: Sipuleucel-T

Note: The main black-and-white image shows a dendritic cell from a guinea pig lymph node by scanning electron microscopy as an image. Its numerous long arms are striking.

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