Afferent Lymph Dendritic Cells: A Model for Antigen Capture and Presentationin Vivo

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Abstract
We review the phenotypic and functional properties of sheep afferent lymph dendritic cells. These dendritic cells bear surface immunoglobulin and can acquire antigen/antibody complexes, both in vitro and in vivo. Our data suggest a role for Fc receptors in the capture of antigen by these cells. Dendritic cells collected after in vivo antigen pulsing are capable of stimulating T cell proliferation in an antigen-specific manner. Afferent dendritic cells express all the known groups of presentational molecules involved in activation of T cells, namely MHC class I and class II, and CD1. These results suggest a role for afferent dendritic cells in the activation of alpha beta and gamma delta T cells.