Retinoic acid-dependent regulation of immune responses by dendritic cells and macrophages

Santhakumar Manicassamy, Bali Pulendran

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

123 Scopus citations

Abstract

Dendritic cells (DCs) control the strength and quality of antigen-specific T and B cell responses. Recent advances point to a novel mechanism, in which metabolism of vitamin A into retinoic acid (RA) in DCs, regulate critical parameters of lymphocyte differentiation. First, RA enhances the induction of Foxp3+ T regulatory cells by DCs. Thus, specific subsets of intestinal DCs and macrophages constitutively express RA synthesizing enzymes, and induce T regulatory cells. In addition, RA programs DCs to imprint mucosal homing properties on activated T and B cells, and enhanced induction of immunoglobulin-A (IgA) by B cells. Here, we review these recent advances, in the context of the pleiotropic effects of RA in regulating diverse biological processes.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)22-27
Number of pages6
JournalSeminars in Immunology
Volume21
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2009
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Dendritic cells
  • Macrophages
  • Retinoic acid

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Immunology

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