Peritumoral CD1a-Positive Dendritic Cells Are Associated With Improved Survival in Patients With Tongue Carcinoma

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Abstract
DENDRITIC CELLS (DCs) are arguably the most potent antigen-presenting cells and may be the only cells capable of initiating the adaptive immune response. They elicit a powerful, antigen-specific immune response. They are highly motile and possess multiple veil-like dendritic processes that protrude from the cell surface to help entrap antigens. They originate in the bone marrow and migrate through the bloodstream to the peripheral tissues, where they become activated on injury or in response to cytokines. They entrap particulate antigens directly and engulf soluble antigens by pinocytosis. Then they travel to regional lymph nodes, where the antigens are processed and presented on the cell surface, in antigen-presenting molecules, to T cells and B cells. Dendritic cells express high levels of class I and II cells of the major histocompatibility complex and the alternative antigen-presenting molecule, CD1. A rapidly growing body of literature suggests a pivotal role for DCs in various immune and inflammatory responses, including inducing antitumor immunity.1-3